One of the most famous and popular attractions of Arkhangelsk is a monument to Emperor Peter the Great. Any resident of our country knows what this sculpture looks like, although it does not think about it. The thing is that this particular attraction is depicted on a banknote of 500 rubles. What else is the monument to Peter the Great in Arkhangelsk famous for and when did it appear?
Description of Attraction
The famous sculpture depicts the Russian emperor during the Poltava battle. Peter the Great is dressed in the uniform of an officer of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, in one hand he holds a cane, and in the other a spyglass. The author of the sculpture is M.M. Antokolsky. The corporate identity of the master is not difficult to notice in the desire to work out every detail and give it maximum historical relevance. The first thing that surprises the monument to Peter 1 in Arkhangelsk when viewed live is its miniature. The height of the bronze sculpture is only 2.5 meters. Despite its fame and popularity, the Arkhangelsk statue is a copy: initially the same sculpture was installed in the city of Taganrog. Today, similar statues (made in the same layout) are in St. Petersburg, Peterhof, Shlisselburg. Also, the original plaster statue, which became the prototype of the bronze sculptures and created personally by Mark Antokolsky in 1872, is today stored in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Monument to Peter 1 in Arkhangelsk: why is it placed here?
During his reign, the emperor was more than once in Arkhangelsk. It was here that he first saw the sea and thought about the need to create a state fleet. Peter the Great personally laid the ship "St. Paul" in these parts, and later came here on the day of his descent. Thanks to the personal orders of the sovereign, Solombala shipyard and Novodvinsk fortress appeared in Arkhangelsk . Negotiations on the manufacture of sculptures for the city were conducted in May 1909. The Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region I.V. was the first to put forward this initiative. Sosnovsky. In 1912, the statue cast in Paris was transported to the installation site. The pedestal was made for her by the monks of the Solovetsky Monastery from gray granite. The monument to Peter 1 in Arkhangelsk was inaugurated on June 27, 1914. Four dates were engraved on the pedestal, the first three of which commemorated the days of the city’s visit by the emperor himself, and the fourth - the year the monument was opened.
The difficult fate of the bronze Russian emperor
Bronze Peter did not have a chance to stand in his rightful place for a long time. In 1920, the statue was most arrogantly thrown off the pedestal by local supporters of communism as a symbol of capitalist power. For the next 13 years, the sculpture lonely lay on the banks of the Northern Dvina and near the "Peter's House". After that, she was transferred to the museum of local lore of the city. The monument to Peter 1 in Arkhangelsk returned to its rightful place in 1948, where it is still located.
Monument to Peter the Great today
You can see one of the most famous sights of Arkhangelsk at the address: embankment of the Northern Dvina, building 82. At the initial installation, the monument was in an open area and was visible from afar. Today, a small square is broken around the statue. In spring, lilac blooms lushly, and in summer everything is buried in verdure. Finding this sculpture by yourself for the city guests may not be so simple. Do not be shy to ask for help from local residents. After all, the monument to Peter 1 in Arkhangelsk, whose history is so amazing and sometimes sad, is not only the country's most famous landmark in the country, but also a statue beloved by many citizens. Be sure to find time for a personal acquaintance with the bronze sovereign if you happen to visit Arkhangelsk.