Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments in Russian cities

Ivan Andreevich Krylov lived a rather long life. Like any man, he traveled through the cities and towns of the country, but he did not stay very long. Perhaps, the phlegmatic temperament affected. Because there are not so many settlements in Russia, in which his memory is immortalized. Let's talk about the main monuments set in honor of the famous fabulist.

Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the XIX century

Of the 75 years that he had given to the writer, he gave 60 to St. Petersburg. In this city the poet came to be a 13-year-old boy, started publishing here and became famous. The creation of Peter on the Neva became the last refuge of the fabulist. He died in 1844 and was solemnly buried (with a huge crowd of people) at the Tikhvin Cemetery in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Its tombstone is very simple, it is executed on a standard project. Apparently, even then it was clear that in the near future a figure of the same scale as Krylov would be immortalized.

A year later, they began collecting money for the construction of the monument. For 3 years they collected 30,000 rubles and held a competition for the best project of the monument to the poet. The winner was Baron Petr Karlovich von Klodt. At that time he was already known, first of all, as the author of the famous horses on the Anichkov Bridge. Actually, according to the original project of Klodt, the monument to Krylov in Petersburg should look different. The sculptor conceived it in a traditional manner: a powerful figure clothed in a Roman toga.

However, next to the main project, even then, in 1848, a sketch appeared, representing the prototype of today's monument. When it was opened (in 1855), a completely unexpected Krylov appeared before the audience. Monuments of the time portrayed the tsar, the commander, the commander symbolically, allegorically. It was a generalized hero, not a man, but his embodiment. And Klodt managed to convey a portrait resemblance to the original. His bronze poet sits on a bench in his working coat - relaxed, thoughtful. And the pedestal is decorated with figures of heroes fables of the author.

This monument became the first "writer's" monument in St. Petersburg and the third - in Russia. It was installed on one of the alleys of the Summer Garden. Firstly, because at one time, in the time of Peter I, there were statues of Aesop and the heroes of his fables. And secondly, because there are always a lot of children in this park.

Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the XX century

In the last century, monuments appeared in Tver and Moscow.

Tver Krylov was opened in 1959. This is the work of sculptors SD Shaposhnikov and DV Gorlov and architect N.V. Donskikh. 4-meter bronze fabulist adorns the square near Victory Square. This is the only "standing" sculpture of the poet. However, in this monument there is a kind of laziness - in a carelessly left forward leg, hands folded behind his back.

The monument to Krylov in Moscow is located on the Patriarch's Ponds, which from the very moment of its appearance in 1976 is puzzling. Of course, the fabulist lived for some time in the present Russian capital, but why his memory is immortalized precisely in the place where Berlioz talked with Ivan Bezdomny is completely incomprehensible. By the way, the monument to Bulgakov never got a residence permit in this magnificent area of Moscow. Anyway, the sculptural composition, including the sitting Krylov and 12 heroes of his fables, still adorns the square. Nearby is a children's playground, so it's very convenient to tell the kids about "Krylov's grandfather", his Monkey, "Quartet" heroes, Crow with cheese or Elephant and Moska. The work was done by architect Armen Chaltikyan, sculptors Andrey Drevin and Daniel Mitlyansky.

Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the XXI century

In 2004, in Pushkino (in the fact that near Moscow, and not near St. Petersburg), there was another sculptural group associated with the name of Ivan Andreyevich. This time, Krylov sits on a bench next to Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. The lean poet expresses something emotionally to a very full-fledged fabulist. Both figures are bronze. Their author is Konstantin Konstantinov. The local residents of the monument caused heated debates. The fact is that both writers have nothing to do with the town of Pushkino (despite its name), although they were actually friends. But the sculptural group is pretty nice, it was loved by children and tourists.

Perhaps there will be monuments to Krylov in other cities - for example, in Serpukhov, where the fabulist lived for 2 years with his younger brother, Lev Andreevich.