Ivan Andreevich Krylov lived a rather long life. Like any person, he traveled through the cities and villages of the country, but in some places he stayed for a long time. Perhaps affected phlegmatic temperament. Therefore, there are not so many settlements in Russia in which his memory is immortalized. Let's talk about the main monuments installed in honor of the famous fabulist.
Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the 19th century
Of the 75 years allotted by fate to the writer, 60 he gave to St. Petersburg. The poet came to this city as a 13-year-old boy, he began to publish here and became famous. The creation of Peter on the Neva was also 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. His tombstone is very simple, made according to a standard project. Apparently, even then it was clear that in the near future a figure of such a scale as Krylov would be perpetuated with dignity.
A year later, they began raising money for the construction of the monument. For 3 years they raised 30, 000 rubles and held a competition for the best design of the monument to the poet. The winner was Baron Peter Karlovich von Klodt. At that time he was already known, first of all, as the author of the famous horses on the Anichkov bridge. In fact, according to Klodt’s original project, the monument to Krylov in Petersburg should have looked different. The sculptor conceived it in a traditional manner: a powerful figure dressed in Roman toga.
However, next to the main project already then, in 1848, a sketch appeared, representing a prototype of today's monument. When it was opened (in 1855), completely unexpected Krylov appeared before the audience. Monuments of that time depicted the king, commander, military leader symbolically, allegorically. This 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 a work coat - relaxed, thoughtfully. And the pedestal is decorated with figures of the heroes of the author’s fables.
This monument became the first "writer" monument in St. Petersburg and the third - in Russia. It was installed on one of the alleys of the Summer Garden. Firstly, because once, during the time of Peter I, there were statues of Aesop and the heroes of his fables. And secondly, because there are always many children in this park.
Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the 20th century
In the last century, monuments appeared in Tver and Moscow.
Tverskoy Krylov was opened in 1959. This is the work of sculptors S. D. Shaposhnikov and D. V. Gorlov and architect N. V. Donskikh. A 4-meter bronze fabulist decorates the square near Victory Square. This is the only "standing" sculpture of the poet. However, some laziness also manifests itself in this monument - in a leg carelessly set forward, hands folded behind their backs.
The Krylov Monument in Moscow is located on the Patriarch's Ponds, which has been perplexing since its appearance in 1976. Of course, the fabulist lived for some time in the current Russian capital, but why his memory is immortalized in the very place where Berlioz spoke with Ivan Bezdomny is completely incomprehensible. By the way, the monument to Bulgakov never received a residence permit in this magnificent area of Moscow. One way or another, the sculptural composition, including the seated Krylov and 12 heroes of his fables, still adorns the square. There is a playground nearby, so it’s very convenient to tell the kids about Krylov’s grandfather, his monkey, the Quartet’s heroes, a crow with cheese or an elephant and a pug. The work was done by architect Armen Chaltykyan, sculptors Andrei Drevin and Daniel Mitlyansky.
