Alexander Column, Victory column on Palace Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Alexander Column stands freely on Palace Square and rises with its polished granite surface against the wide sky above Saint Petersburg. The shaft made from a single block of stone supports a bronze figure at the top with outstretched wings and flowing robes.
The column was built between 1829 and 1834 to commemorate Alexander I's victory over Napoleon, and was unveiled on 30 August 1834. Auguste de Montferrand designed it after his earlier obelisk proposal was rejected; the 25.45-metre red granite shaft was quarried in Virolahti, Finland, and shipped to Saint Petersburg in 1832.
The angel figure at the top holds a cross toward the sky and bears facial features that recall Emperor Alexander I. Around the base, carved figures display armor and weapons from the era of the liberation wars.
The column can be viewed from all sides of Palace Square, with the perspective from the Winter Palace offering a clear sight line. On sunny days, light reflects off the polished stone and brings out the shape clearly.
The granite block stands on its base without fastening or mortar and holds steady only through its own weight. Only precise calculations and the flat bearing surface prevent it from tipping.
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