Timiryazev monument in Moscow

The Timiryazev monument is a granite statue of a scientist in Moscow's Presnensky District, showing him in a Cambridge doctoral mantle on a geometric base decorated with microscope sculptures. The figure stands at the end of Tverskoy Boulevard and marks a significant spot between scientific achievement and public learning in the city.

Soviet sculptor Sergei Merkurov created this monument in 1923 as part of Lenin's monumental propaganda campaign. It replaced a demolished building at Tverskoy Boulevard and commemorated a pioneer of plant research.

The inscription on the base reads "K. A. Timiryazev - warrior and thinker" and includes a scientific diagram showing how light affects plant growth. These elements highlight the scientist's dual role as both a researcher and a public educator in Soviet society.

The monument sits in a public, easily accessible location on Tverskoy Boulevard in central Moscow and can be reached on foot. Visitors can view it at any time and take a moment to study the sculpture details and scientific symbols on the base.

The sculptor used natural imperfections in Swedish granite blocks to determine the statue's elongated proportions, following techniques used by ancient craftsmen. This hands-on approach gives the monument an organic quality rarely seen in Soviet monumental works.

Location: Presnensky District

Inception: 1923

Architects: Dmitry Osipov

Creator: Sergey Dmitriyevich Merkurov

GPS coordinates: 55.75790,37.59859

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:06