Monument to Peter I, Bronze equestrian statue at Senate Square, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Monument to Peter I is a bronze equestrian statue at Senate Square depicting the tsar with his arm extended forward while mounted on a rearing horse. A serpent lies beneath the animal's hooves, crushed under its weight.
Catherine the Great commissioned the statue, which was created by French sculptor Étienne Falconet and inaugurated in 1782. Its creation marked a period when European artists significantly influenced the making of Russian monuments.
The statue became famous through Alexander Pushkin's narrative poem The Bronze Horseman, which transformed it into a symbol of the city's founding spirit.
The statue rests on a massive granite pedestal that was transported from the Gulf of Finland during winter using innovative engineering methods. The location is easily accessible and allows visitors to view the monument from all sides without restrictions.
The horse rears on its hind legs with no additional support points, maintaining balance through precise weight distribution and hollow bronze casting. This technical achievement in casting allowed Falconet to create a dynamic and powerful composition.
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