Alexander Column, Victory column in Palace Square, 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.
Auguste de Montferrand designed the monument in 1834 to honor the Russian victory in the war against Napoleon. Transporting the granite block from Finnish quarries and raising it on the square took more than three years.
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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