{"id":24542,"date":"2024-05-12T15:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-12T12:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/igardens.ru\/?p=24542"},"modified":"2024-05-21T16:43:50","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T13:43:50","slug":"monument_to_the_fabuloritor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/igardens.ru\/en\/monument_to_the_fabuloritor\/","title":{"rendered":"MONUMENT TO THE FABULORITOR"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The idea of \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bbuilding a monument to Krylov in St. Petersburg originated among his friends, who organized a nationwide fundraiser for this purpose. In 1848, the Academy of Arts held a competition to design a monument. The best of those presented was the work of P. K. Klodt.<\/h4>\n
The sculptor\u2019s realistic aspirations were most clearly and consistently manifested when working on the monument to I. A. Krylov. Klodt carried out his designs and models from 1848 to 1853; bronze casting was carried out by sculptors in the \u201cFoundry House\u201d of the Academy of Arts. The opening of the monument took place on May 12, 1855.<\/h4>\n
A place to install the monument was not immediately found. It was supposed to be placed on the square in front of the Public Library, where Krylov worked from 1812 to 1842, or on the Neva embankment near the University. Nicholas I categorically rejected both proposals. The final choice of location – in the center of one of the main bosquets of the Summer Garden – was made by the sculptor himself.<\/h4>\n
In the center of the front face of the pedestal, above the inscription \u201cTo Krylov 1855,\u201d are placed attributes characterizing the literary activity of the poet and playwright; a lyre with a laurel branch, a theatrical mask and a mirror – an emblem of wisdom and truth. In the center of the right side there is an oval bas-relief with a scene from the fable \u201cFortune and the Beggar\u201d. The same oval bas-relief on the left side of the pedestal depicts the Demon feeding the ear of his neighbor Phocas.<\/h4>\n
The inscription and medallions are framed in high reliefs – scenes from the most popular fables. Here you can see the Cuckoo and the Rooster, the Fox, who raised his muzzle to the bunches of grapes, the Crow, listening to the flattering words of the Fox, the Crane, who stuck his head into the mouth of the Wolf, the Rooster, who found a pearl grain, the toothless Squirrel, the envious Little Crow, trying to carry away the Ram, the Ox and the arrogant A frog, Mice gathered for a council, a Crane – the hero of the fable \u201cFrogs Asking for the Tsar.\u201d On the back side of the pedestal there are depicted a Pig undermining the roots of a mighty oak tree, a Monkey trying on glasses, an Eagle listening to the advice of a Mole, a Snake scaring away the birds with its singing.<\/h4>\n
Foliage of trees, branches of oak, spruce, palm trunk, ivy shoots, and vines are skillfully woven into the overall design, forming a beautiful ornamental background for fable scenes. The multi-figure groups on the corner parts of the pedestal were originally designed. The plots for them are taken from the fables \u201cLion on the Hunt\u201d, \u201cQuartet\u201d, \u201cLion and Leopard\u201d, \u201cElephant on the Voivodeship\u201d; the compositions are complemented by images of a Bear feasting on honey and an Eagle carrying away a Lamb.<\/h4>\n
A selection of photographs from the collection of postcards “Monument to I.A. Krylov” for the 200th anniversary of the birth of I.A. Krylova. Photographer V.V. Strekalova (1969)<\/h4>\n