The Alexander Column – the compositional centre of the Palace Square

 

2.1 The ceremonial opening of the monument     

 

The formal inauguration of the monument took place exactly two years after the column was set upon for its pedestal, on 30 August 1834.      On the ceremony was attended the emperor, the imperial family, the diplomatic corps, one hundred thousandth Russian army and representatives of the Russian army. For the passage of troops on the Palace square on the project of Montferrand there was built yellow (Pevchesky) bridge over the Moika. It was carried out in an emphatically Orthodox entourage and was accompanied by solemn divine at the base of the column, which was attended by kneeling troops and the emperor himself.           The event the city was preparing diligently. Two weeks before the incident, Professor of the Academy of Arts, Andrei Ivanovich Ivanov wrote to his son in Italy: “We have made a lot of preparation to Alexandrov day, which is believed to open the monument to Alexander I and the Patriotic war of 1812; to the Palace Square built a rich staircase to the second floor of thereof, which will be a Grand gathering on the square of the sovereign with generals... all from the Palace square to the Senate cleared...”          This divine service was drawing a parallel on open-air with the historic prayer service of the Russian troops in Paris on the day of Orthodox Easter on March 29 (April 10) 1814.         The poet Vasily Zhukovsky left his recollections of the event: “No pen can describe the grandeur of that moment when, at the sound of three cannon shots, from all the streets there suddenly appeared, as if springing out from the earth, huge, shapely columns of Russian troops moving to the thunder of drums and the sound of the Parisian March. The ceremonial march-past began: Russia's forces went past the Alexander Column. This magnificence, this unique spectacle, lasted two hours...” Then, on the Square was held a military parade. It was attended by regiments distinguished themselves in the war of 1812, at all in the parade was attended by about a hundred thousand people.       Recently, attention is often paid not only to the Alexander Column, but also on her fence. It was destroyed during the Soviet era and reconstructed in the 2000. Vandals often frustrated with her ​​bronze eagles and peaks. A broken fence, doubtless, mar up the Square of St. Petersburg. It was asked to make a formal trade bronze eagle or to arrange a guard of honor around the column. But so far none of this has been done.            Two years after the erection of the monument, in 1836, under a bronze finial granite column on the polished surface of the stone began to appear white-gray spots, affecting the appearance of the monument.      In 1841, Nicholas I ordered to inspection the column flaws, but the conclusion of survey states was that in the course of a crystal of granite partially crumble into small cavities, which are perceived as the crack.    In 1861, Alexander II was established by the “Committee for the examination of the lesions of the Alexander Column, which included scientists and architects.  There were erected scaffolding for inspection, as a result of which the committee came to the conclusion that, indeed, there are cracks on the column, initially peculiar monolith, but there was concern that the increase in the number and size of their “can give rise to the collapse of the column.”    As to materials, which must be repaired, these caverns were discussions. Russian “grandfather chemistry” A.A. Voskresenskiy was offered up, “which was to give the closing mass” and, “by which a crack in the Alexander Column stopped and closed with a complete success” – Mendeleev.     For regular inspection of the column secured four chains on the abacus  of the capital – fixture to lift the cradle, in addition, the masters had to periodically make “climbing” on a stone monument to clean the stains that was not easy, given the greater height of the column.       Decorative lights at the column were made 40 years after the discovery - in 1876 by the architect Konstantin Rachau.        For all the time, since its opening to the end of XX century, a monument five times subjected to restoration work, wearing a rather decoration.    After the events of 1917, the area around the monument was changed, and the angel was closed for the holidays colored in red canvas cap or masked balls, get down with the airship hovering.        The fence was dismantled and melted down on cartridge cases in the 1930s. During the siege of Leningrad, monument was covered only by 2/3 of the height. Unlike of Klodt’s horses or sculptures Summer Garden, a monument remained in place and the angel injured: one of the wings was a deep fragmentation track, besides the monument shell fragments were deposited over hundreds of minor injuries. One of debris stuck in the bas-relief image of the helmet of Alexander Nevsky, from which he was removed in 2003.  Restoration carried out in 1963 (N.N. Rechetov foreman, supervisor- restorer I.G. Black).            In 1977, at the Palace Square were carried out restoration work: around the columns were restored historic lights, asphalt was replaced with granite and diabase stones.            In honor of the opening of the monument was released the commemorative ruble circulation of 15000 coins. On the obverse of the coins minted Royal profile; image columns, designed to symbolize the victory over Napoleon and the Majesty of the Emperor Alexander I, adorns the downside. There is an inscription “Alexander I from grateful Russia” and the date of opening of the monument – 1834 (coin itself was minted two years later, in 1836). 

 

2.2 Legends of Triumphal Column 

 

Triumphal Column was glorified throughout the whole Russian Empire, everywhere being shrouded in myths and legends. It’s hard to believe, but first, the citizens were afraid to approach to new construction for fear of being buried under its ruins. Such rumors have some basis: when installing the figure of the angel on the top of the column initially it was planned itself finials made of granite, but at the last moment granite replaced the conventional brickwork. Offended with distrust public, Montferrand was walking daily next to the column with his dog, trying to dispel the empty fears of inhabitants. For years since the Foundation of the column has a lot of legends and stories connected with this monumental construction. These myths are rather curious reflection of the imagination, worries and the spirit of Petersburgers, belonging to different epochs. According to one of them, during the construction of the Alexander column of rumors that this monolith was by accident in a number of columns of St. Isaac's Cathedral. Allegedly, having received the column longer than necessary, have approved the use of this stone on Palace square.          Another legend says: the French ambassador at St. Petersburg’s yard informs interesting information about this monument: “On the subject of this column is possible to remember the proposal made by the Emperor Nicholas skillful French architect Montferrand, who was present at her excision, transportation and production, namely: he offered drilled in this pillar screw shaped staircase and demanded only two employees: a man and a boy a hammer, a chisel and a basket, where the boy endured would fragments of granite as it as his drilled; finally, two lights to illuminate work in their difficult work. After 10 years, he argued, the employee and the boy (this, of course, to grow a bit) completed its spiral staircase; but the Emperor, justly proud of construction of this unique monument, feared, and, may be, thoroughly that it drill not reached the outer flanks of the columns, and therefore rejected this offer”.     

With the development of progress was appear more “advanced” myths about Alexander column, – it was rumored that the foundation of it is sort of a “stopper” for oil well. The irrepressible imagination individual citizens drew in their imagination oil fountain, lies in the middle of Palace square. And this must have been just move a column from the place!       Perhaps, with an imaginary place of birth of oil and began the next hoax-related column: in 1989 a group of very active citizens not less actively collecting signatures of citizens to protest against the moving of the monument to Alexander garden, so that the column does not interfere with the parades. An unknown number of signatures have been collected, but the hype has died down by itself. During perestroika in the newspapers published “pin-pointed information” about in the years of Soviet power the Communists have repeatedly were to be replaced by a statue of the angel bust of one of the leaders of the world proletariat, but did not choose whom to place there, Lenin or Stalin. According to one of the numerous legends, in the pedestal of the column was buried box excellent champagne - stand forever without nether exposed to draft, nor the inclination.  In 1840 in St. Petersburg, there was a well-known pun, authorship is attributed to Professor V.S. Poroshin: “Post post post”. Who was who in this little phrasebook masterpiece the Petersburgers was not necessary to tell. According to the legend, to give a person with the face of an angel likeness of Alexander I, the sculptor Orlovsky at the same time pointing out that the muzzle of a snake trampled cross angel shall sound like a person of Napoleon ordered the reigning Emperor Nicholas I. A pillar of Nicholas I to Alexander I.     Also, there is a legend, after the beginning of the restoration of 2002 - 2003 no longer reputable newspaper publications began to spread information that the column is not solid, and consists of a number of pancakes, so cleverly fitting to each other, that seams between them virtually invisible.      One of the most popular legend is the married come to the Alexander column and the groom carries the bride on hands around the pillar. According to the belief, how many times the groom with the bride on hands bypass column, so many children they have will be born.        And the angel on top of the column all these years still with sadness and love looking at the stored them the city and its dwellers, such different and seeming to be tiny and helpless with fifty-meter height…

 

Conclusion

Installing the Alexander column was formed on Palace square a nice completed the architectural ensemble, the present centre of the capital of a mighty Empire – winner. As anticipated from the center of the capital, the area for many decades was the place where history was made. And so it remains. Square has always looked surprisingly harmonious and solemnly, always admire and care. Despite its monumentality, the monument leaves a very moving impression: hovering over the people angel gives the structure a special charm. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil, an allegory of peace, which came to Europe after the victory of Russian troops over Napoleon's army. The column, reminding arch constructions of the ancient times and delights the accuracy of proportions, laconism of forms, the beauty of lines and the silhouette.     Monument perfectly fit into the Palace square ensemble, due to its absolute proportions and sizes.           The famous Alexander column expresses the spiritual power of Imperial Russia and its Orthodox hosts expressed.        The great monument, designed by Montferrand in cooperation with the Russian masters, has surpassed Roman Trajan's column and the Vendome in Paris. The Alexander column sung by an outstanding poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin in his poem “Monument”, 1836:               “A monument I've raised not built with hands,                            

And common folk shall keep the path well trodden                  

To where it unsubdued and towering stands

Higher than Alexander's Column.         

I shall not wholly die-for in my sacred lyre            

My spirit shall outlive my dust's corruption -           

And honour shall I have, so long the glorious fire             

Of poesy flames on one single scutcheon.                        

Rumour of me shall then my whole vast country fill,             

In every tongue she owns my name she'll speak.      

Proud Slave's posterity, Finn, and-unlettered still -       

The Tungus, and the steppe-loving Kalmyk.             

And long the people yet will honour me                

Because my lyre was tuned to loving-kindness         

And, in a cruel Age, I sang of Liberty                     

And mercy begged of Justice in her blindness.            

Indifferent alike to praise or blame            

Give heed, O Muse, but to the voice Divine        

Fearing not injury, nor seeking fame,                                                   

Nor casting pearls to swine”.          Pushkin's lines are interest to us, except for the fact that to the monument of the poet does not experience enthusiastic feelings. In the literature, several cite his daily note from November, 1834: “I was absent – left St. Petersburg for five days before the opening of the Alexander column – not to be present at the ceremony together with cameras-the cadets, - their comrades.” It was a direct link to the irony of Pushkin in relation to a monument. And if Pushkin yet, calling his creative feat miraculous monument compared him from the heights of greatness Alexander Column and turned it into a multi-valued comparisons poetic metaphor, then, was to be erected on the Palace Square monument quickly and firmly entrenched in the minds of contemporaries, was a kind the emblem of the era.  

In artistic calculations of Montferrand really was the desire to impress the viewer the size of the projected them monument. And in words, and in fact, the architect did not hide the fact that, in its counsel, quite frankly followed already earned global recognition designs, samples, had a symbolic meaning in the architectural space, where they were, and in the ideological atmosphere of the time. The closest historical precedents were Trajan's column in Rome and the Vendome column in Paris. Make your column above the previous – this was one of the important goals of Montferrand, and he reached her (the height of the column together with the statue – 47.5 m).           Now, having before our eyes and still stands a monument, just more reliable and easier to discuss it in terms of the specific role it has played and plays in the organization of urban space. Since then, as installed on the Champ de Mars at the end of the XVIII century the famous Rumyantsev obelisk was moved to Vasilievsky Island in 1818, the Central squares of St. Petersburg were left without the explicit and standing on the ground vertical landmark organizing a visual impression city inhabitant. For space-compositional design of the Palace square this benchmark was important double after, opposite the Winter Palace arose majestic building of the General staff, and therefore there was a clear need to identify a centripetal spatial motion inside of this architectural ensemble. The Alexander column has become a culmination of the town-planning concept of the center.              The monument was held in a much broader reflections on the fate of Russia, about the historical experience of the country, the decisive shifts in public and national identity of the people. Even in the natural disaster which hit the city before the opening of the columns, met providential meaning.      Being in the heart of the main city square, adjoining to the Baroque architecture of the Winter Palace and solemn scope of the General staff arch, the column as a particular architectural-plastic motive becomes the embodiment of other ideological and artistic character. By design, Alexander column should contain a double memorial function: that of religion in its essence – serve as a memory about a particular person who died, Emperor Alexander I, and civil – perpetuate the historical victory of Russian people in the Patriotic war of 1812 .  “Angels” of St. Petersburg – the upper tier of the architectural environment of the city, the integrity of which is determined here, far away from the earth, not of planning-compositional accents, and the symbolic meaning of these heavenly messengers of peace. To ensure this, it is necessary to put in one number angel, crowning the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral (you can add it to not come down to us figures of angels blowing, located on the top floor of the building), angels with lamps, located on the St. Isaac Cathedral and, finally, an angel with a cross, standing on the Alexander column.        

                                                       Bibliography

                                    Издания на русском языке

1. Бакмейстер И.Г.  библиотекарь Имп. Академии наук. Перевод статьи из “News of St. Petersburg”. Русское издание. 1786 г. – 25 c.

2. Бартенева И.А  Памятники архитектуры Ленинграда, состоящие под государственной  охраной. Под ред. – Л: Издательство литературы по строительству, 1972. – 128 с.

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                                     Издания на английском языке

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16. Leningrad. Architectural landmarks and places of interest. – L: Aurora Art Publishers, 1980. – 395 p.

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Интернет  ресурсы

21. Энциклопедия Санкт-Петербурга //http//www.encspb.ru

22.Российский общеобразовательный портал. Коллекция: исторические документы //http://historydoc.edu.ru

23. Presidential library //http://prlib.ru

24. Интернет библиотека Алексея Комарова. //http://ilibrary.ru

25. Интернет библиотека //http://razlib.ru

26. Images of Alexander Column //http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/images

27. The free encyclopedia // http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Column

28. The free encyclopedia //http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/etienne_Maurice_Falconet

29. The Hermitage History //http://www.hermitagemuseum.org

30. Интернет библиотека //http://magicays.com/Buildings/AlexanderColumn.htm

31. A view on cities//http://www.aviewoncities.com/stpetersburg/palacesquare.htm

32. Александровская  колонна в Cанкт-Петербурге//http://kolonna.ru/istorii/

¹ The French Invasion of Russia in 1812, also known as the Russian Campaign in France (French: Campagne de Russie) and the Patriotic War of 1812 in Russia (Russian: Отечественная война 1812 года), was a turning point during the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces (the Grande Armée) to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe. Napoleon named the campaign a Second Polish War (in reference to the "First Polish War"); the Russian government proclaimed a Patriotic War.

² Auguste de Montferrand (January 23, 1786 – July 10, 1858) was a French Neoclassical architect who worked primarily in Russia. His two best known works are the Saint Isaac's Cathedral and the Alexander Column in St. Petersburg.

³  Nicholas I (Николай I Павлович, r Nikolai I Pavlovich; 6 July [O.S. 25 June] 1796 – 2 March [O.S. 18 February] 1855) was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855. He was also the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland. He was the younger brother to his childless predecessor, Alexander I. 

⁴ Agustín de Betancourt y Molina (Августин Августинович де Бетанкур, Avgustin Avgustinovich de Betancourt, in Russian; 1758–1824) was a prominent Spanish-Canarian engineer, who worked in Spain, France and Russia. His work ranged from steam engines and balloons to structural engineering and urban planning. As an educator, Betancourt founded and managed the Spanish Corps of Engineers and the Saint Petersburg Institute of Communications Engineers. As an urban planner and construction manager, Betancourt supervised planning and construction in Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt, Nizhny Novgorod and other Russian cities.