Description of the attraction
The monument to Peter I in Kronstadt was opened on July 9, 1841. The height of the monument is 8, 66 meters (of which 4, 09 meters is the height of the pedestal, 4.57 meters is the height of the sculpture). The model of the monument was made in 1836-1837 by the French sculptor Theodore-Joseph-Napoleon Jacques, who worked in Russia in 1833-1858. The project was approved by Emperor Nicholas I, and it was decided to erect this monument in Kronstadt. The final project (together with the pedestal) was approved on February 26, 1839. The bronze sculpture was cast in a foundry at the Academy of Arts. The casting was supervised by Petr Karlovich Klodt.
The sculptural image of Peter I is a full-length bronze figure of the tsar, mounted on a high pedestal made of red granite. It is believed that Peter is depicted here by the artist in the same uniform with the ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and the scarf that he wore on June 27, 1709, on the day of the Battle of Poltava. The king's gaze is directed to the west, his head is bared. In his lowered right hand, Peter holds a naked broadsword, his left hand bent at the elbow rests on his belt. With his right foot outstretched, Peter tramples the enemy's flag. Under the tsar's sculpture there is a decorative bronze cartouche with the inscription "1709".
The monument in Kronstadt is the third in the order of opening the monument to Peter I in St. Petersburg.
In the early 40s of the 19th century, large stone construction was underway in Kronstadt: a defensive wall was built, fort Peter I was put into operation, and the construction of the "Emperor Alexander" fort was carried out. Nicholas I paid a lot of attention to Kronstadt, so it was decided to erect a monument to its founder here.
The monument to Peter I was erected in the center of a deserted embankment next to the Arsenal building - Arsenalny parade ground. Here, the front lines of the Kronstadt crews were carried out. The monument was installed so that the face of Peter I was directed towards the sea and the Kronshlot fortress (it was from its foundation that the history of Kronstadt began. The opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the 132nd anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Poltava. The granite pedestal of the monument is decorated in the corners with bronze ornaments.
Petrovsky Park was formed around the monument in the 60s of the 19th century. After some time (1882), the Petrovskaya pier was opened, at the same time they began to install a cast-iron fence on three sides of the park.
