Wondering why this monument is called the Bronze Horseman when it seems to be made of copper? The story of this famous statue is full of surprises. We are standing before the magnificent Bronze Horseman. This equestrian statue of Peter the Great is located in Senate Square. It is a symbol of Saint Petersburg.
Catherine the Great commissioned this statue. She wanted to connect herself to Peter the Great. She had the monument inscribed in Latin and Russian. The inscription reads: “Catherine the Second to Peter the First, 1782.” This showed her admiration for Peter and her place as a great Russian ruler.
Etienne Maurice Falconet, a French sculptor, created the statue. He arrived in Russia in 1766. The casting of the statue began in 1775. During the casting, the mould broke. Molten bronze spilled and started fires. Emelyan Khailov, the caster, risked his life to save the casting.
It took 12 years to create the Bronze Horseman. This included the pedestal, horse, and rider. The Tsar’s face is the work of Marie-Anne Collot. She was only 18 years old. She used Peter the Great’s death mask and portraits as models.
The statue portrays Peter the Great on his horse. His outstretched arm points towards the River Neva. The horse tramples a serpent. The serpent represents treachery and the enemies of Peter’s reforms. The statue is about 6 meters tall. The pedestal is 7 meters tall.
The pedestal is the Thunder Stone. It is a rapakivi granite monolith. It was found 6 kilometers from the Gulf of Finland. A legend says thunder split a piece off the stone.
Marinos Carburis, a Greek engineer, moved the Thunder Stone. He waited for winter when the ground was frozen. Workers dragged the stone over the frozen ground to the sea. They used a metallic sled with bronze spheres. It took 400 men nine months to move the stone. A medal was issued to celebrate its arrival. It read: “Close to Daring.”
During the Siege of Leningrad in World War II, the statue was protected. It was covered with sandbags and a wooden shelter. It survived 900 days of bombing.
Alexander Pushkin wrote a poem called “The Bronze Horseman.” This poem made the statue famous. The poem is about the conflict between the state and ordinary citizens. In the poem, Evgenii curses the statue. The horseman chases Evgenii through the city.
The statue has inspired many artists. Lenfilm, a film studio, uses the Bronze Horseman as its trademark. The statue appears on paintings, postcards, and coins.
The Bronze Horseman stands as a powerful symbol. It represents Peter the Great. It also embodies the history and spirit of Saint Petersburg. Take a moment to appreciate the artistry and the stories behind this iconic monument.