On March 17, 1972, the Vecherny Leningrad newspaper published a short article about an experiment that took place in the Summer Garden. In 1971, a new method was proposed for sheltering the Summer Garden sculpture for the winter. Instead of the usual wooden cases, five sculptures were covered with caps made of transparent organic glass. In addition, the sculptures were illuminated in the evening.

In her interview, the director of the Summer Garden, Kira Mikhailovna Egorova, said: “… so far, these innovations are of an experimental nature. It remains to be seen how marble will “behave” in such conditions and a number of other points.”

Ultimately, the experiment failed, but that’s another story.

Enjoy your walks in the gardens of the Russian Museum.