Description of the attraction
Monument to N. K. Roerich in St. Petersburg was installed in the Vasileostrovets garden at the intersection of Bolshoy Prospekt and the 25th line of Vasilievsky Island. The monument was installed with sponsorship by order of the Roerich Heritage Charitable Foundation.
It is not by chance that this place was chosen for the installation of the monument. Petersburg is the birthplace of the Roerich family. Nicholas Roerich himself was born on Vasilievsky Island, and he was baptized here, on the 6th line in St. Andrew's Church. Here, together with his brothers, he studied at the gymnasium of K. I. May, famous for its humanitarian traditions. Here he continued his studies at the Academy of Arts at St. Petersburg University at the Faculty of Law. Here, in his student days, he participates in the activities of the Russian Archaeological Society. Here he is married to E. I. Shaposhnikova in the church of the Academy of Arts.
Nicholas Roerich is one of the significant cultural figures of the 20th century, Russian philosopher, artist, scientist, traveler, writer, archaeologist, teacher, public figure, poet. He created about 7000 canvases (many of them are kept in famous galleries) and about 30 literary works, he is the author and initiator of the Roerich Pact, he founded the international cultural movements "Banner of Peace" and "Peace through culture". N. K. Roerich chose India as his second home, but his ideas belong to the whole world, since he preached the triumph of beauty, the idea of peace, kindness, brotherhood.
The sculptor Viktor Zaiko and the architect Yuri Kozhin worked on the creation of the monument. The idea of the monument to Roerich came from the sculptor while studying at the Academy of Arts. At that time he was fascinated by the ideas of Roerich, collected materials about his life and work. It was then that the first sketches of the monument appeared, which have now been brought to life. The sculptor worked on the creation of Roerich's image for almost 20 years (1980-2001). The main model was created in 2001. The work of the sculptor was highly appreciated by the chief artist of St. Petersburg, a fine art connoisseur, I. G. Uralov, they were also given a number of useful suggestions and additions. A year later, the project was approved by the City Planning Council. The sculptor invited the St. Petersburg society "Banner of Culture" to support the project, and in October 2002. the project was approved by the required authorities. But the "Banner of Culture" was unable to raise the necessary funds for the implementation of this project, and it was transferred to the International Charitable Foundation "Roerich Heritage". The Foundation found a sponsor (it was OOO Kovcheg) and completed all the necessary approvals for the installation project.
In February 2006. the mayor of St. Petersburg signed a decree on the installation of a monument to Roerich. The monument was erected on October 23, 2010. Its grand opening took place on November 9, 2010, on the day of the 136th anniversary of the birth of N. K. Roerich and in the year of the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Roerich Pact on the protection of cultural values in the years of armed conflicts. The opening of the monument was attended by A. Gubankov, Chairman of the Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg, Radhika Lokesh, Consul General of India in St. Petersburg.
The sculptural image of Roerich is very ascetic, it seems to grow out of a pedestal on which his beloved mountains are depicted. A heavy cape gives monumentality to the figure. The restrained and laconic figure of Roerich made of Karelian granite stands on a massive granite pedestal and a decorative platform. The monument overlooks Bolshoy Avenue, the height of the figure is 3.5 meters, the total height of the structure is about 6 meters. The granite pedestal on which the monument is installed is also unique. It is a single, solid block without a single flaw.
It took a long time to choose the place for the monument. There were several options for placing the monument: Trezzini Square, on the 6th line of Vasilievsky Island, where Roerich was born and lived, Bolshoy Prospect. As a result of long and careful work of specialists of the city planning committee of St. Petersburg, they chose a place located in the Vasileostrovets garden on the axis of the central lawn next to Bolshoy Prospekt. Such a decision was considered the most expedient, since the installation of a monument to a famous cultural figure in this place will contribute to the revival of the goal of the garden as a place of culture and recreation for the Vasileostrovites, residents of the city and its guests. In addition, symbolically, there is a certain connection between three centuries: the 19th - when the artist was born, the 20th - in which he lived and created his works, and the 21st - when the monument was erected.
Monument to N. K. Roerich in St. Petersburg is a symbol of special recognition of the great compatriot in his hometown.
