During the years of World War II, Russia brought up many great commanders. To pay tribute and recognition, many of them have erected monuments in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. One of the popularly recognized commanders is Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, Marshal of the Soviet Union and four times Hero of the Soviet Union, as well as a gentleman of two orders of Victory. In the postwar years, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, for two years he held the post of First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The legendary commander died in 1974, June 18. By decision of the country's leaders, Zhukov, as an outstanding statesman and military leader, was buried near the Kremlin wall on Red Square. And to the 100th anniversary of Georgy Konstantinovich instituted the order and medal of Zhukov.
Nobody is forgotten …
Heroes leave, but their memory is eternal. The military command academy of air defense in Tver is named after the commander. Also, his name is the avenues and streets in many settlements of the former USSR. Sculptural compositions in honor of the marshal were installed in Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Kursk, Kharkov and other cities. Moscow was no exception. Monument to Zhukov, however, appeared in the capital relatively recently - in 1995, although the idea of creating it arose back in the days of the Soviet Union.
History
The Ministry of Culture of the USSR organized a competition for the best sketch of the future statue. He was won by the sculptor of monumental art, who had previously performed a monument to Marshal Zhukov (in the village of Strelkovka - in the commander’s homeland), Victor Dumanyan. The composition was supposed to be placed on Smolenskaya Square, but the Architecture and Design Department, which gave recommendations on the placement of monuments in Moscow, decided that Manezhnaya Square was the best place to install such a sculptural composition as a monument to Zhukov. However, adjustments to the work were made by perestroika. They forgot about the monument for a long time …
Monument to Marshal Zhukov
They resumed work in a new country under the new government. President Boris Yeltsin on May 9, 1994 signed a decree on the installation of the monument on Manezhnaya Square. However, then again changes followed. In the process of meeting Yeltsin with the Great Patriotic War veterans, it was decided that the most important square of the country, Red Square, should be decorated with such a structure. They decided to erect a monument to Zhukov in the immediate vicinity of the Historical Museum and other rescuers of the Fatherland - Pozharsky and Minin. The sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov (photo below) was entrusted to lead the work on the composition, and he supported the correctness of this decision. According to Klykov, the choice of any other place for the installation of the monument would be an abuse of the memory of the commander.
Nevertheless, the monument to Zhukov was erected on Manezhnaya Square, near the entrance to the historical museum. The fact is that Red Square is an object of culture and history of world significance, included in the UNESCO list and under protection, and this organization has banned any additions or changes to its territory.
Description of the sculpture
The monument is made in the style of socialist realism. Georgy Zhukov sits astride a horse, and he hoofs with his hoofs the standards of Nazi Germany. In this we can trace a parallel with George the Victorious, fearlessly defeating the snake. The commander is depicted somewhat standing up on stirrups and greeting his comrades in arms. Vyacheslav Klykov said that he sought in this composition to portray one of the most solemn episodes in the life of the marshal - the moment when he hosted the Victory Parade on June 24, 1945. The Zhukov Monument is a bronze sculpture mounted on a massive granite pedestal. The weight of the monument reaches one hundred tons.
Interesting fact
It is noteworthy that Stalin ordered Georgy Konstantinovich to accept the parade on a white horse. This is a unique case in the entire Soviet history of horse parades. They could not find a white suit horse suitable for Zhukov in the Manege of the Ministry of Defense, and they found him only in the cavalry regiment of the USSR State Security Committee. It was a stallion wearing the nickname Idol. By the way, Georgy Konstantinovich was an excellent cavalryman, however, in the morning he still came to the Manege for training.
Monument to Zhukov: criticism
The place that was reserved for the monument turned out to be not very successful: firstly, the sculpture is too moved to the service entrance of the museum, and secondly, it is located on the north side of the building and therefore is very darkened. It is possible to see the monument to Zhukov in detail only in the daytime, because in the evening and at night the composition looks just black. In artistic circles, the monument has also undergone many criticisms. Architects and sculptors not only perceived the aesthetics and proportions of the monument negatively, they also condemned the embodied image of the marshal and the idea itself.
Opinion of the author
Despite many unflattering reviews, Fangs continued to insist that the composition was professionally constructed competently, and the image of the commander was conveyed correctly. Having pulled the reins, Zhukov, as it were, brought Victory to the walls of the Kremlin. According to the author, the moment of the adoption of the Parade is depicted directly when the marshal is at the zenith of glory and greatness. The horse’s rhythmic step is also consistent with this idea. However, riding experts and he caused some confusion. They added fuel to the fire of general discontent, saying that horses don’t put legs like that. Nevertheless, as already noted, Klykov did not find any flaws in his work. When creating the composition, he focused on his own memories of that memorable Victory Parade and in the image of Zhukov sought to embody the theme of holiness, putting the commander on a par with Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy.
