The idea to erect a monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg came to the minds of nobles and during her reign. Who, if not her? Against this was the queen herself. However, by the centenary of her accession to the throne (September 22, 1762), the idea began to be realized.
Century from idea to embodiment
The question of installing a monument to the Empress was raised in April 1863. The initiator was Baron Fredericks, the offspring of the Russian count, baron, noble family. He was supported by all the estate branches of the City Duma and the United Commission on the benefits and needs of the public. The initiators proposed to erect a monument on Alexandrinsky Square between the Alexandrinsky Theater and the Public Library, located in a building that belonged to the late queen. Until this time, the monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg was never installed.
Project
In 1862, a competition was announced for the best design of the monument. He was won by the artist and sculptor Mikhail Mikeshin, already known throughout the country thanks to the Millennium of Russia complex, erected by his project in Veliky Novgorod. His new work in the Rococo style received an honorary medal at the World Exhibition in London. But the monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg was originally planned for installation in Tsarskoye Selo. And for this, M. Mikeshenym made a model in 1861. After the decision to establish a structure in the city on the Neva, changes were necessary to the layout, although the general idea remained the same. In 1864, a new figure was cast by the master Sokolov. This model was later placed in the Grotto pavilion in Tsarskoye Selo.
Serious approach
The overall management of the work was entrusted to the architect D. I. Grimm, academician, one of the founders of the “Russian style”. Another architect, V. A. Schroeter, and two sculptors entered the team for the construction of the monument: A. M. Opekushin (author of the monument to A. S. Pushkin in Moscow) and M. A. Chizhov. A slightly redone model of the monument received the highest approval. The work has begun. The very figure of the empress, standing with regal posture and graciously smiling at the first persons of the state, was sculpted by Matvey Afanasyevich Chizhov. The monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg resembles the general outline of the Millennium of Russia - the same bell shape, the central statue crowning the entire monument, at the foot of which there are figures of figures significant for the country.
Alexander Mikhailovich Opekushin sculpted them at the Catherine’s obelisk
, and the figures of the most prominent figures of the glorious era of the reign of Catherine the Great were cast at the Nichols and Plinke factory by the best bronze casters.
In total, the monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg (photo in the article) required 50.8 tons of bronze. This metal was also used to make a laurel wreath, encircling the foot of the marble pedestal (the marble was taken from the Karelian Isthmus), to the floor lamps of the candelabra of 4 lanterns located around the perimeter of the monument, and a board that says that the monument was erected during the reign of Alexander II. The author of all the bronze parts and the granite pedestal itself was D. Grimm. From the drawings of his student Victor Schroeter, ornamental details of the lamps were made.
One Queen in the Sky
With a total height of the monument of 10 meters, the figure of Catherine II herself is 4.35 meters. The empress is depicted with reverence - she is not a despot, she is the mother of the state. Majestic, but affectionate, wisely governing the country. In her hands is a scepter, and instead of a power - a laurel wreath, which symbolizes not only power, but also glory. Indeed, all of Europe knew that the Russian Empress was a wise and enlightened woman. An ermine mantle is thrown over the royal shoulders - one of the regalia of power. The second - the Crown of the Russian Empire - lies at its feet. On the chest of Catherine II is another symbol of imperial power - a diamond sign on a chain and a star of the Order of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, established by Peter I.
Good associates of the cohort ...
The gracious queen smiles at her nobles, who did everything for the greatness of Russia during her reign. Who are these people that the whole country knew, and not just St. Petersburg? The monument to Catherine 2 immortalized their names.
Facing Nevsky Prospect are the figures of Peter Rumyantsev-Zvdunaysky, who ruled under Catherine of Little Russia, His Grace Prince George Alexandrovich Potemkin-Tavrichesky, who took Ochakov and annexed New Russia to Russia. The legendary generalissimo Alexander Suvorov is the third figure in the group. All of them contributed to the expansion of the borders of the Russian Empire. As you move to the Anichkov Palace , the figures of the poet Gabriel Derzhavin and Ekaterina Dashkova, the president of the Russian Academy, who contributed to the formation of the great power, appear. Further settled Prince Alexander Bezborodko, who led the entire foreign policy of the state, and Ivan Betskoy, president of the Academy of Arts. They are turned towards the Public Library (St. Petersburg). The monument to Catherine 2 is supplemented by two more figures located opposite the Alexandrinsky Theater. This is naval commander Vasily Chichagov, a polar explorer, and the legendary Alexei Orlov-Chesmensky.
The day of military glory of Russia is considered July 7, when the Russian fleet under the command of Alexei Orlov won a brilliant victory over the Turks in the Chesme battle. These are really the best people of their time, and no urban legends detract from their merits, just as the significance of Great Catherine does not detract from the familiar name of the square surrounding the monument - “Katkin Garden”.
Legends of central attraction
One of the most famous sights of our country is the monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg. Its description can be continued with some statistics. He cost the state 316 thousand rubles. The opening ceremony and the release of
commemorative medals increased this amount to 456,896 rubles. The monument was erected for more than 10 years. Legends surround it, as, in fact, any attraction. One of them is connected with the moment of the beginning of construction - following the example of one hysterically enthusiastic lady who tore off her finger and threw a ring into the foundation pit, this was done by some other women. Well, how many there should have been so that the legend of “countless treasures” buried at the foot of the monument was born in the minds of Petersburgers. By the way, in the piles during construction were mounted samples of gold and silver coins of the rulers of Russia?
Monument to Catherine 2 in St. Petersburg, whose address: Central District, Nevsky Prospect, 56, is located in the historic center of the city. Nearby are Catherine Square and the Alexandrinsky Theater. It can easily be reached by public transport, you need to go to the Gostiny Dvor metro station.