Sculptures of the Summer Garden of the Russian Museum were covered for the cold season

See in our selection how specialists prepare the statues for winter.

Covering the sculptures of the Summer Garden is a tradition that originated in the 18th century, during the reign of Anna Ioannovna – then the statues were wrapped in canvas. But the canvas got wet and froze, so in the 1820s, the sculptor Demut-Malinovsky suggested using wooden cases, which more reliably preserved the sculptures. This principle is still used today.

After the reconstruction of the garden, the collection of sculptures of the Summer Garden, with the exception of the “Nystad Peace”, was replaced with copies made of polymer marble. The original marble sculptures are in the Mikhailovsky Castle in order to ensure their safety – they can be seen in the permanent exhibition.