Behold, the Bronze Horseman! What appears before you is not merely a statue. It is a symbol of Saint Petersburg itself. This equestrian statue of Peter the Great stands in Senate Square. It has stood here since its public unveiling on August 7, 1782.
Catherine the Great commissioned this impressive monument. She wanted to connect herself to Peter the Great. This French sculptor Étienne Maurice Falconet created it. The statue became known as the Bronze Horseman after Alexander Pushkin’s poem. The poem is now one of the most significant works of Russian literature.
Let’s delve into the story behind its creation. Falconet arrived in Russia in 1766. In 1775, the casting began under Emelyan Khailov. During the casting, the mould broke. Molten bronze spilled and started fires. Khailov risked his life to salvage the casting. It took 12 years to complete the Bronze Horseman. That included the pedestal, the horse, and the rider.
Look closely at the Tsar’s face. Marie-Anne Collot, only 18, crafted it. She used Peter the Great’s death mask and portraits. Falconet’s student modeled the face. Diderot called her Mademoiselle Victoire. Now, notice Peter’s right hand. It was modeled from a Roman bronze hand. It was found in the Netherlands in 1771.
The unveiling ceremony was grand. Thousands attended on that August day. Falconet was notably absent because of a conflict with Catherine. He left Russia four years before completion. Catherine then viewed the Bronze Horseman as her own creation.
Peter the Great sits heroically on his horse. His outstretched arm points towards the River Neva. Falconet captured the horse rearing at a cliff’s edge. The horse tramples a serpent. This represents treachery, evil, or Peter’s enemies. The statue is six meters tall. The pedestal adds another seven meters, totaling thirteen meters.
The pedestal itself is quite remarkable. It is known as the Thunder Stone. This granite monolith was found in Lakhta. Legend says thunder split a piece off the stone. Moving it was a feat of engineering. Marinos Carburis, a Greek engineer, led the effort. Workers waited for winter. They dragged the stone over frozen ground using a metallic sled with bronze spheres. Four hundred men worked for nine months. They moved the 1,250-ton stone. A medal was issued to commemorate its arrival. It read “Close to Daring”.
There’s a legend about the Bronze Horseman. It says that while the statue stands, enemy forces cannot conquer Saint Petersburg. During the Siege of Leningrad, the statue was protected with sandbags and a wooden shelter. It survived the 900-day siege virtually untouched.
Pushkin’s poem made the statue famous. It explores the conflict between the state and ordinary citizens. The poem tells of Evgenii, who curses Peter for founding the city in a flood-prone location. The horseman comes to life and chases Evgenii. The poem closes with the discovery of Evgenii’s corpse.
The Bronze Horseman stands as a powerful symbol. It embodies Peter the Great’s vision. It represents Saint Petersburg’s resilience. It continues to inspire art and literature. Take a moment to appreciate the history.