Publishing house “Encyclopedia” published the book of Doctor of Art History, Academician Yury Rostislavovich Savelyev “Monument to Russian History. Monument to Emperor Alexander II in the Kremlin in Moscow”. A monument that has stood for about thirty years and remains one of the most important in the history of art.
The Kremlin museums in Moscow even organized an exhibition dedicated to the creation of the monument to Alexander II in the Kremlin.
The idea of the monument arose immediately after the assassination of Alexander II. Moscow Mayor Sergei Tretykov proposed erecting the monument and was supported by the Moscow City Duma. Alexander III approved nationwide fundraising, which brought in 1,762,000 rubles. In 1890, Alexander III approved the project of artist Pavel Vasilyevich Zhukovsky and architect Nikolai Vladimirovich Sultanov, supplemented by the sculpture of Alexander Mikhailovich Opekushin.
A monument was erected in the center of Russia, its composition and symbolism reflect the main milestones of the nation's history. The monument was conceived and built during the period of economic and cultural development of the country, due to the reforms of the Liberator Tsar and the subsequent peaceful reign of Emperor Alexander III.
The central position is occupied by a bronze statue of the emperor. He was captured at the moment of his coronation, when the sacrament of anointing the kingdom took place and the fate of the nation was entrusted to him. The image of the emperor embodies the centuries-old model of power inherited in Rus' from Orthodox Byzantium.
The Kremlin monument is also a monument of the era of Alexander III, reflecting the monarch's tastes and testifying to the creative content of his reign. He was a participant in the creative process, went into all the details of the project, and the Governor-General of Moscow, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, headed the Construction Committee.
The monument is a memorial complex with a full-length statue of the emperor in military uniform, purple, and wearing a scepter. On three sides there is an arched gallery, on the arches are carved 33 portraits of Russian rulers.
Before work began, thorough archaeological excavations were carried out at the construction site in the Kremlin.
To ensure the stability of the monument, it was decided to lay the foundation on mainland rock, where caissons were used.
Along with the statue of the emperor AM Opekushin also possesses sculpted images that decorate the side tents of the gallery: the coat of arms of Moscow – the image of St. George the Victorious, and the coat of arms of the Romanovs – the imperial falcon, as well as a three-sided double-headed eagle on the central canopy of the monument.
The monument's foundation laying ceremony took place on May 14, 1893. There was the attendance of the emperor and royal family, court officials, entourage, military units, representatives of castes and clergy. This ceremony has become an important event in the history of monument construction.
1895-1897 Construction of the sandstone gallery and central canopy of the monument is underway. The galleries are covered with Monier system concrete domes for mosaic cladding. Italian craftsmen installed about 200 square meters of mosaics shipped from Italy.
In the exhibition vaults, it was initially intended to depict decorations and images of the main events of the reign of Alexander II, but, at the suggestion of NV Sultanov and the approval of the Sovereign's idea, mosaic portraits of the kings were installed there. In their final form, the portraits are placed from left to right, representing great princes, kings and emperors: Saint Vladimir with a cross in his hand, Yaroslav the Wise with the code of laws of “Russian Truth”, Vladimir Monomakh, Mstislav the First, Yuri Dolgoruky, Alexander Bogolyubsky with a temple in his hand, Vsevolod III, St. led books Alexander Nevsky, Ivan Danilovich Kalita with a wallet, Simeon the Proud, Dmitry Donskoy with the black banner of the Kulikovo Field, Vasily I, Vasily II the Dark in the form of a blind old man; sovereignty and leader. books Ivan III, Vasily III; Tsar Ivan the Terrible, Fyodor Ioannovich, Boris Godunov, Vasily Shuisky; leaders of kings and tsars Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, Alexei Mikhailovich, Fyodor Alekseevich, Ivan Alekseevich; Emperor Peter I in armor, Catherine I, Peter II, Anna Ioannovna, Elizaveta Petrovna, Peter III, Catherine II, Paul I, Alexander I the Blessed and Nicholas I.
Above the arches of the main canopy, on its pediment and frieze, are placed coats of arms with short titles or Small Coats of Arms, which, according to the Code, were considered the most important. On the north facade are the coats of arms of the Kingdom of Poland and the United Kingdom. Principality of Finland, in the east – Kazan kingdom and Astrakhan kingdom, in the south – Georgian kingdom and Chersonese Tauride, in the west – Siberian kingdom, Kiev-Novgorod and the coat of arms of Vladimir. The canopy, facade and friezes are decorated with the provincial coats of arms. On the outside of the gallery are placed the coats of arms of the regions that became part of the empire under Alexander II – the Amur region, Turkestan and the North Caucasus.
Opposite the monument there is a metal fence with the royal monogram, made at the bronze foundry in St. Petersburg. Petersburg by Karl Berto. At the request of Alexander III, a public garden appeared at the construction site.
The monument makes a strong impression at close range, as the viewer gets lost in a kind of “gravitational field” of the monument. The imagination is impressed by the richness of the decoration and the noble sophistication of the combination of various materials. The center of the composition is a monumental canopy on four supports in the form of columns made of dark pink granite, covered with bronze floral ornaments sparkling with gold. The canopy is decorated with shimmering Venetian mosaics – double-headed eagles in sails, and golden stars shine on the blue canopy. The majestic statue of the emperor with the wonderful patronizing gesture of the royal hand is distinguished by noble nobility and sovereign composure. “To Emperor Alexander II, with the love of the people,” is inscribed on the pedestal. The dome and monument are raised on a multi-tiered granite base, and the area leading to the gallery is paved with light gray, dark pink and dark blue granite. From the gallery there is a wonderful panorama of the ancient capital of Russia.
Before the canonization ceremony, the palaces, the Kremlin territory, the Tsar Bell and the Red Gate were all arranged in order. Wreaths of fresh flowers and greenery, exotic trees, masts with flags and heraldic shields, obelisks with gas lamps inside, etc. were used in the colorful design of streets and squares. At night, rings of bulbs are lit, fountains, buildings and facade decorations are illuminated.
The monument's consecration ceremony began on the morning of August 16, 1898 with 5 cannon shots from the Taininsky tower. From the Chudov Monastery, a procession led by the Emperor and Empress advanced to the platform in front of the monument, where the ceremony took place, the end of which was announced by the ringing of bells from all Moscow churches and the salute of guns. The celebration ended with a military parade and reception at the Grand Kremlin Palace.
100 years ago (April 12, 1918), the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR passed a decree on the demolition of monuments erected “in honor of kings and their servants”. According to him, four unique historical monuments were destroyed in Moscow: the Monument to Emperor Alexander II in the Kremlin, the Monument to Emperor Alexander III at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Monument at the place of death. Sergei Alexandrovich book in the Kremlin and the Monument to General Mikhail Skobelev.
The monument has been part of the Kremlin complex for only thirty years. In 1918, the emperor's statue was lost and in 1928 it was dismantled. In the 1932 photo, the solid base of the monument is still visible, but it was later partially lost and hidden behind the trees of the park that formed on the site. For decades, he was not mentioned in art historical publications and was excluded from educational programs. Only since the 1990s the first publications appeared, thanks to which he regained his rightful place in the history of our art and culture. Although short-lived, the monument became famous. In the history of art, it remains Russia's most important national monument.
In 2005, a new monument to Alexander II in Moscow was opened in a park near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The main merits of the emperor are written on the pedestal: the abolition of serfdom in 1861, military and judicial reform, the end of the Caucasian War.
