The monument to Catherine II is located in Catherine Square on Ostrovsky Square in St. Petersburg. Nearby runs the famous Nevsky Prospect, and not far away are the Anichkov Palace, gifted by the empress to her favorite G. A. Potemkin, and the Alexandrinsky Theatre. The bronze monument, along with its granite base, reaches a height of over 10 meters.

History of the Monument's Creation

Catherine the Great was one of the most influential Russian empresses. Her memory is immortalized in numerous historical sources and monuments across the country. She became a symbol of enlightened absolutism, during her reign the borders of the state expanded, and Russia entered the 19th century as one of the powerful states. In 1861, to commemorate the centenary of her ascension to the throne, it was decided to erect a monument in the capital. Although Catherine herself forbade the erection of monuments during her lifetime, Alexander II made this decision nonetheless. The competition was won by the project of Mikhail Mikeshin, known for his works such as the 'Millennium of Russia' in Veliky Novgorod. Despite his lack of sculptural education and young age, his project was accepted.

Initially, the monument was planned to be installed in Tsarskoye Selo, but in 1865 it was decided to place it near the Alexandrinsky Theatre. The foundation stone was laid in 1869 in the presence of Alexander II and his family, and the monument was unveiled in 1873.

Technical Data

Before casting the sculpture, a model was created at a scale of 1/16. The monument weighs 50.8 tons, and the pedestal is made of Karelian granite. The height of the figure of Catherine II is 4.35 meters, and the total height exceeds 10 meters. All elements were cast at the 'Nichols and Plinke' factory in St. Petersburg. Construction was repeatedly delayed due to a lack of materials and weather conditions. The total cost of creating the monument amounted to over 450,000 rubles.

Composition

At the top of the monument, Catherine II is depicted with a scepter and a laurel wreath. She is surrounded by a ermine mantle, and at her feet lies the crown of the Russian Empire. Around the pedestal are nine statesmen from her era, including P. A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, G. A. Potemkin, A. V. Suvorov, and others. The sculptures were created by Alexander Opekushin. It was planned to complement the composition with busts of other figures, but due to the Russo-Turkish War, this idea was postponed.

Urban Legends

According to legends, a treasure is hidden under the monument. At the laying of the pedestal, one of the ladies threw a ring into the pit, and others followed her example. After 1917, there were plans to demolish the monument to install a statue of Lenin, but this did not happen. The monument has often been subjected to vandalism; for example, Suvorov's sword has gone missing multiple times. In the 1990s, the empress's chain and order were stolen. Because of these incidents, the monument is referred to as the 'unluckiest' in the city.

The monument to Catherine II is a cultural heritage site of Russia. Catherine Square is a popular place in the center of St. Petersburg where city events and festivals are held. The monument serves as a landmark and meeting place. Since Soviet times, chess players and artists have gathered here. This place reminds us of a significant era in Russian history when Catherine II, despite her non-Russian origins, became a symbol of the Russian monarchy.