Peter 1: a monument in Moscow. Description, history, opinions

No, perhaps, a ruler who would have deserved the centuries-old memory of compatriots than Peter the Great. The monument in Moscow on the project of the famous sculptor Z. Tsereteli is considered one of the most ambiguous creations of the author.

Around this monument for fifteen years, discussions have not ceased, it causes a lot of different opinions. From the point of view of artistic value, it is treated differently. Despite this, as a model of engineering art, it is unique.

Description of the monument

The monument to Peter the Great in Moscow is located on a reinforced concrete island, created specifically for its installation. The supporting structure of the structure is assembled from stainless steel in the form of a frame on which the bronze lining is mounted. The figure of Peter, the ship and the lower segment of the monument were collected separately and only after that lined up on a common, prepared in advance pedestal.

The guys of the ship are specially designed. They are made of metal cables, connected together and swinging at the wind blow. In other words, the guys are made, like real ones.

The monument is faced with high-quality bronze, which protects it from the destructive effects of the external environment. The figure of the emperor for additional protection is covered with a special varnish, which contributes to the preservation of color.

The sails of the ship are made hollow to facilitate the top of the monument. Their basis is a lightweight metal frame. All the mountings of the monument are made of stainless steel in order to avoid corrosion. Inside the monument there is a ladder designed for restorers, installed to assess the internal state of the structure.

As already mentioned, the bronze king stands on an artificial island. To simulate the movement of the ship along the waves in the grounds of the island, fountains are equipped. When you look at the composition, it seems that the ship is dissecting the waves.

History of creation

The bronze statue was erected in 1997. Many media argued that this is a monument dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Europeans, and originally on the pedestal was assumed the figure of Christopher Columbus.
However, the author's attempts to sell the monument to the Americans or the Spaniards were not crowned with success. After that, the monument was presented by the authorities and the author to the city as a gift in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. As a result, the hero of the composition was Peter 1. The monument in Moscow still causes heated debates among the public and connoisseurs. The fifth of September 1997 was marked by the opening of the statue, timed to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow.

The monument to Peter I was received by Moscow without enthusiasm, primarily because the anniversary of the fleet was held in 1996, that is, the gift was "late" for a whole year. Employees of the Navy in the person of Admiral Selivanov appealed to the Russian government with a request that in honor of their professional holiday in the capital, another monument was erected, according to the sketch of the artist Lev Kerbel. However, the city authorities ignored the request of seamen.

The attitude of Muscovites to the monument

Most residents of the capital believe that the giant statue of the emperor has a small artistic value and does not fit into the architectural ensemble of the city.

In world culture, many cases are known where unusual or strange sculptural compositions glorify their heroes and authors. For example, the monument of Vaclav on a dead horse, located in the center of Prague, the Haddington pedestal, depicting a shark crashing into the roof of the house, or the well-known Brussels pissing boy. Russia, Moscow can boast of its own landmark in the same way . The monument to Peter I in Moscow entered the world's top ten most "unsympathetic" structures.

Monuments in other cities

Tsar Peter left in the history of our Fatherland the greatest trace as an extraordinary reformer, ruler, commander and, undoubtedly, a great despot. Not only Moscow and St. Petersburg are famous for Peter's monuments.

Monuments to Peter are in Kaliningrad, Voronezh, Vyborg, Makhachkala, Samara, Sochi, Taganrog, Lipetsk and even in European cities - Riga, Antwerp, Rotterdam, London.

Several volumes are not enough to tell how much Peter the Great made for Russia. The monument in Moscow and other cities will preserve for many decades the face of the greatest of Russian monarchs.

A few words about the author

The famous sculptor and artist Zurab Tsereteli was born in Tbilisi, in 1934, three days before Christmas. He received his higher education at the Academy of Fine Arts of Tbilisi. Then he studied in France, where he met with outstanding painters - Chagall and Picasso.

The 60th years in the life of the sculptor were marked by the beginning of active work in the monumental genre. One of the famous children of Tsereteli is "Peter 1" - a monument in Moscow. His work is known not only in Russia and CIS countries.

Sculptures of Tsereteli are in America ("Tears of Grief", "Good triumphs evil"), Great Britain ("Destroy the Wall of Distrust"), Spain ("Victory").