History of St. Petersburg: Exhibition dedicated to the monument of Peter I on the Senate Square

November 21, 2016 New exhibition hall of the State Museum of Urban Sculpture (St. Petersburg) opens the exhibition "An idol with a copper head on a bronzehorse emerged…", dedicated to the famous monument to Peter I on the Senate Square, and timed to coincide with the 300th anniversary of its author - French sculptor, art historian, engineer and caster Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791).

From 1766 to 1778 Falcone lived and worked in St. Petersburg, giving the creation of a monument to all of their creative powers, energy, overcoming numerous, sometimes dramatic, difficult conflict circumstances translate into reality the grandiose plan. 12 years of continued work on the monument, which was destined to become not only the personification of Peter's time, but the symbol of the new Russia transformed, the legendary Bronze Horseman.

The exposition is located on two floors of a new exhibition hall, and it reflects not only the basic steps of creating a monument, but no less fascinating, little-known modern history of its existence. The exhibition presents sculptures, graphic works, archival photographs and documents from the museum (including a sculptural portrait of Peter, a student made hand E.-M. Falcone - Anne-Marie Collot, which became the basis for castings). For the first time are demonstrated unique materials about conducted in 1976 of large-scale surveys and the subsequent restoration of the Bronze Horseman. The exhibition is accompanied by interesting and rich interactive program.