The monument in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty is a building with an amazing fate. Initially, it was planned to create a monument that would glorify the ruling dynasty, illustrate the most significant events that took place in the history of the Russian Empire. But the revolution intervened in the plans, as a result of which the monument was not at all what it was intended. What is known about the construction?
History
The monument in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty is an idea that arose in 1903. It was proposed by the vowels of the Kostroma Duma, who wanted to demonstrate devotion to the ruling dynasty. The monument was supposed to cover all the important historical events that took place during the 300 years of the Romanov rule.
It took a long time to choose a place to erect the monument, to solve this issue, a special commission of artists was created, which included such famous personalities at that time as Benoit, Opekushin, Beklemishev. After a lengthy debate, it was decided to stop on a site located on the banks of the Volga, where the Kremlin was once located. The commissioners liked this place because the whole Volga was in full view.
The monument in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty was planned as a magnificent building. Not surprisingly, it took several years to raise funds for its construction.
Monument Design: Competition
Of course, the search for a place to erect a monument is far from the only task that the commission had to solve. To start the construction, an original design of the monument was needed, for which a contest was organized. Initially, the attention of the commissioners was drawn by the project of the sculptor Adamson. But Adamson’s idea involved too much expense.
After simplifying the project, which led to a decrease in its cost, it was approved, it happened only in 1912. The role of the architect was entrusted to Sergei Vlasyev, known as the creator of the stela-obelisk, located in the Alexander Garden. Work began with the manufacture of the pedestal, as well as the creation of individual figures.
Participated in the construction of the monument and the sculptor Adamson, who was entrusted with the task of taking over the sculptural works. The engineer Bolshakov became responsible for the construction, and the company K.V. Werfel took up the casting of bronze figures.
Bookmark
Of course, the monument for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty could not be ready by the time the anniversary was celebrated, the work ahead was laborious and lengthy. However, for the solemn ceremony, which took place at the end of May 1913, its bookmark was timed.
It is curious that Emperor Nicholas II was present at the bookmark, his wife and children were also invited. The ceremony was held in a festive atmosphere, a grand parade of local troops was organized. By the way, it was in May 1913 that the 760th anniversary of Kostroma was celebrated, so the holiday turned out to be double.
Monument construction
The plans of the creators intervened in the First World War, significantly slowing down the process of erecting the monument. By the beginning of 1916, work on the pedestal was completed. Also, 20 bronze figures were brought to the city (in total, the project involved the installation of 28).
Of the brought figures, the creators of the structure managed to install only two. The remaining sculptures were left to wait in the crates in which they were delivered to the city.
After the revolution
G. Kostroma, like all other settlements in Russia, was swept by the fire of the revolution. After its completion, the creation of the monument, of course, ceased, the sculptor Adamson left for his native country. For more than a year, the construction was in an abandoned state, surrounded by scaffolding.
In the first half of 1918, the monument attracted the attention of the executive committee. It was decided to engage in the reconstruction of the structure, which was never completed. It was originally planned to turn it into a Freedom Monument, the opening of which will be timed to coincide with the anniversary of the October Revolution.
However, the monument stood in an abandoned state for several more years, since there was a catastrophic shortage of funds for carrying out the planned actions. The statues brought to the city, for the most part, remained in the drawers installed next to the pedestal. Some of them were transported to the park of a house that once belonged to the governor.
Monument to Vladimir Lenin
The monument in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in Kostroma was never built. The monument was again remembered only in 1924, it happened after parting with the deceased leader. It was decided to install on the finished pedestal a structure commemorating the memory of Vladimir Lenin.
The sculptures that were in the boxes all this time, it was decided to re-melt. To do this, they were transported to the factory "Worker Metalist", which functioned in the city. A concrete statue depicting the leader was erected on a pedestal in May 1928. It is known that sculptors such as Schwartz, Lebedev, Ivanov worked on the figure of Lenin.
The final destruction of the statue took place in 1981, as a result of which it was replaced by a more reliable monument made of bronze. When creating the figure of Lenin, the traditional image of the leader was used. The statue depicts Vladimir Ilyich making a propaganda speech, helping himself with an energetic gesture.
Description of the monument
If the Romanov dynasty had not been overthrown, the city of Kostroma would have acquired a truly grandiose structure. The project said that the pedestal-pedestal would be shaped like a chapel, its height was to be 36 meters. It was also planned multi-tiered completion of the tent, the crown of which was to become a majestic double-headed eagle.
In addition, it was planned to create ledges-steps having a ring shape. They were supposed to serve as a place to place portrait figures. The figures depicted not only representatives of the ruling dynasty, but also vivid personalities who were noted by certain acts during their reign.
List of figures
The list of figures for the monument included 28 units. Of these, the creators intended to place 18 directly on the pedestal. Of course, there were portrait figures of the founders of the Romanov dynasty. This is the first Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, his parents Filaret and Martha. The dying Ivan Susanin was to be located at the foot, receiving a blessing from an allegorical figure depicting the Russian Empire.
Peter the Great was portrayed against the background of the ship, which was supposed to hint at the contribution of this king to the development of the Russian fleet. In the hands of Alexander the Second was his famous Manifesto, which provides freedom to the peasants. Tsar Nicholas II and his son Alex were depicted bending over a map of the state. The figures of Minin and Pozharsky were also present, these famous persons should be located on the sides.
It was planned to create six elegant reliefs depicting the famous predictions made by the Romanovs’ house, which was foreseen by the Rev. Gennady, in the lower part of the building. According to the project, there should have been spectacular scenes describing the calling to the kingdom of Mikhail Romanov, grandiose battles (the Borodino and Poltava battles, the defense of Sevastopol).
Some sources claim that there should have been 26 figures. However, this was assumed in the first version of the project, which was later changed.
Location
So, where was the monument to be in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty? Address: Kostroma city, Central Park.