Perhaps a wanderer’s spirit lingers near this spot. This is the \u0418. \u0421. \u0422\u0443\u0440\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0443 Plaque. It commemorates the time Ivan Turgenev lived in this building.
Ivan Turgenev was a great Russian writer. He lived here from 1858 to 1860. The \u0418. \u0421. \u0422\u0443\u0440\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0443 Plaque marks this significant period in his life.
Saint Petersburg was important to Turgenev. He published in several journals here. He also had many friends in the city. His passionate love affair with Polina Viardo began here. It lasted for 40 years. Even though he died in France, Turgenev is buried here. He requested to be buried in St. Petersburg.
The statue of Ivan Turgenev stands on Manezhnaya Square. It is not far from where the magazine Sovremennik had its offices. Turgenev published his work in this magazine. The sculptors Yan Neiman and Valentin Sveshnikov created the statue. They used Turgenev’s death mask. This helped them model the writer’s face.
Neiman hoped to capture Turgenev’s essence. He wanted to show him as a great writer. He also wanted to show him as a wanderer. Turgenev moved between Russia and France. The statue depicts Turgenev seated. He leans on a staff. This pose is like that of Jupiter from classical mythology.
Vasily Rozanov noted Turgenev’s impressive height. He said Turgenev seemed more like solid furniture. He seemed less like a living person because of his height. The \u0418. \u0421. \u0422\u0443\u0440\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0443 Plaque and statue honor Turgenev. They celebrate his contributions to Russian literature. They also acknowledge his connection to St. Petersburg. The city was important to his life and work. This \u0418. \u0421. \u0422\u0443\u0440\u0433\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0432\u0443 Plaque serves as a reminder of Turgenev’s legacy.