Since 1774, the writer's father served as chairman of the criminal chamber of the provincial magistrate in Tver; after his death, young Ivan began serving in the Tver provincial magistrate with the rank of sub-clerk, for an extremely low salary.
A.K. Zhiznevsky, manager of the Tver Treasury Chamber, wrote: “As the son of poor parents, Krylov early became acquainted with real life and began to encounter people early. Since childhood, he loved to wander around the city. All the nooks and crannies of Tver were known to him, and he had comrades everywhere. He attended public gatherings, shopping areas, swings and fist fights, where he jostled among a motley crowd.” In Tver at that time one could see a lot of things that were later embodied in the famous fables of Ivan Andreevich. His observations of this period became the basis for unimagined stories in which images of people are conveyed through the example of animals.
Composition of the monument
The center of the composition is a full-length figure of the poet, standing on a high pedestal with the inscription “Ivan Andreevich Krylov.” The sculpture conveys the portrait likeness and character of the fabulist, which was described by his contemporaries. V.M. Knyazhevich wrote in his notes in 1820: “Gnedich told me how our fabulist I.A. Krylov accomplished a great feat by learning Greek. It is already over 50 years old; its characteristic features are known: gastronomy, drowsiness, absent-mindedness, and, moreover, its thickness. All this does not imply perseverance and patience.” The poet is presented to the audience as a thoughtful, slightly overweight, calm and good-natured person. Another contemporary of I.A. Krylova recalled: “Not long ago there lived among us a man of high dignity, of dignified appearance, whose white hair, although it reminded him of the many years he had lived, but whose strength, strength and portliness seemed to foreshadow his exceptional longevity.”
Ivan Andreevich died at the age of 75, in 1844, and the first monument to the fabulist was erected in St. Petersburg in 1855.
The Tver monument became the second erected in honor of I.A. Krylova. It, like the pedestal of the St. Petersburg monument, shows easily recognizable characters from the fables. On a semicircular platform, reached by wide steps, there are granite benches around the monument.
Heroes of fables
Sculptural illustrations of famous fables are located in the corners of a small square on which the figure of the poet rises. In total, there are four steles with eight relief images of scenes from the fables “The Crow and the Fox,” “The Wolf and the Crane,” “Quartet,” “The Lion and the Wolf,” “The Pig under the Oak,” “The Aged Lion,” “The Cuckoo and the Rooster,” "Wolf and Lamb". They are arranged like pages of open books made in bronze.
The monument to the great fabulist fit into the space of the city without disturbing it.
In 1845, immediately after the death of Ivan Andreevich Krylov, on the initiative of the newspaper St. Petersburg Vedomosti, a Committee was created to raise funds for the construction of a monument to the Russian fabulist. Over the course of three years, the committee collected more than 13,000 rubles in the form of private donations. In May 1848, the Academy of Arts organized a competition for the best design of the monument, in which A. I. Terebenev, N. S. Pimenov, I. P. Vitali, P. K. Klodt and P. A. Stawasser participated. The project of Pyotr Karlovich Klodt, approved on November 26, 1849, was recognized as the best.
In the spring of 1854, Klodt cast the monument and minted bas-reliefs at the Foundry Workshop of the Academy of Arts. On the bas-reliefs placed on the pedestal of the monument to Krylov, the sculptor depicted scenes from Krylov’s fables: “Fox and Grapes”, “Frog and Ox”, “Lion on the Hunt”, “Crow and Fox”, “Elephant in the Voivodeship”, “Rooster and Pearl grain", "Little Crow", "Quartet", "Lion and Leopard", "Monkey and Glasses", "Wolf and Crane", "Squirrel", "Cuckoo and Rooster", "Demyan's Ear", "Fortune and the Beggar". The creation of the monument to I. A. Krylov is the last major work of the sculptor P. K. Klodt. The artist A. A. Agin helped the sculptor in working on the monument.
During the process of creating the monument to Krylov, the sculptor had many birds and animals living in his workshop: a donkey, a cat, dogs, monkeys, a sheep with lambs, a fox, a crane, a frog. From them he sculpted fable characters. The master even had such large predators as a wolf (sent by the royal huntsmen) and a bear and cub (sent by the sculptor’s brother). streets and hotels. Such a neighborhood did not cause any particular trouble for Klodt. There was only one animal Klodt did not dare to place in the workshop - a goat. Every time an old woman who lived nearby took him to Pyotr Karlovich. The animals got along calmly with each other. Only the wolf constantly hunted cats, and the bear became addicted to alcohol, which the workers treated him to. To sculpt a lion from life, Klodt went to the menagerie of the German Zam on the Fontanka. The sculptor observed the elephant in the menagerie in Tsarskoe Selo. At the end of the work, Klodt transferred all his pets to Zam’s menagerie.
From the memoirs of P. K. Klodt’s son:
These animals lived with us like family members. And what was missing from my father’s vast workshops! They were filled with a continuous roar, howl, bleating, squeaking... All this motley society lived side by side not only in cages, many walked freely around the workshop and rooms, and were friendly with each other, except for the wolf, who could not resist Don't hunt cats.
In the spring of 1852, Klodt provided a large model of the monument for consideration by the Academy of Arts. After its approval in May 1853, the monument to Krylov was cast in bronze.
The issue of the location of the monument was resolved for quite a long time. It was proposed to install it in front of the Academy of Arts, the Public Library, the building of the University (Krylov was its honorary member), in the necropolis of masters of art of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (he was buried here in 1844). However, Nicholas I rejected all these options. As a result, they decided to install a monument to I. A. Krylov in the Summer Garden, where the writer often spent time. This option was proposed by the creator of the monument, P. K. Klodt.
The grand opening of the monument to I. A. Krylov took place on May 12, 1855. V.V. Stasov wrote about him:
Krylov sits in front of us on a pebble, in his annual frock coat and trousers, a heavy, good-natured slob, as he actually was at the end of his life, without embellishment and without the slightest idealization...
20 years after the opening of the monument, in 1865, an artistic fence was built here to protect the monument from vandals.
During the siege of Leningrad, the monument was covered with wooden shields made from logs. However, shell fragments still damaged both the monument itself and the fence around it. In 1945, the shields were removed and the monument to Krylov was restored.
In 1848, about 30 thousand rubles were collected, which at that time was a very large sum. The Academy of Arts announced a competition, dozens of sculptors took part in it to create a monument to Krylov in St. Petersburg (photo below).
Among the many participants, Baron Klodt won. The sculptor's preliminary sketches were dedicated to the author's fables and songs.
Soon a monument was created and installed, which can be seen today. It depicts the famous fabulist on a high granite pedestal, where the heroes of his famous works are depicted.
The monument to Krylov in St. Petersburg is only 3 meters high, but the work to create it was long and difficult. Klodt was always for realism, so all the animals on the monument are depicted as they are in real life.
Creating a Masterpiece
The monument to Krylov in St. Petersburg took 4 years to create. The workshops contained animals that served as “models” for depiction on the monument.
There was a tame wolf and a mother bear with a bear cub, a crane, a donkey, a fox and many others. When work on creating the monument was completed, the animals were moved to a special menagerie.
Throughout his life, I. A. Krylov wrote 300 fables. On the pedestal of his monument are excerpts from 36 of his most famous works.
Educational video about the monument to I.A. Krylov
Where is the monument to Krylov?
It took a long time to choose the location for installation. At first they wanted to place it next to the grave of the famous fabulist, then in the library park where he worked for more than 30 years, the Neva embankment was also considered.
If you don’t know where the monument to Krylov is, then go to the Summer Garden. It was this place that the sculptor insisted on. Why exactly here?
Once upon a time, the Summer Garden had a huge number of different amazing monuments and sculptures. Under Peter I there was a green labyrinth, and next to it a statue of Aesop (the famous fabulist of antiquity), but unfortunately this great art has sunk into oblivion.
All that remains is the name of the Fontanka River, received in honor of the large number of fountains located near the labyrinth. But then in 1977 he made amendments to history by destroying everything.
Therefore, it is not surprising that more than 50 years later, it was decided to erect a monument to Krylov in St. Petersburg in this famous place.
After 20 years, the monument was surrounded by a fence to protect it from vandals, and in the 60s a major restoration was carried out.
During World War II, “Krylov” was covered with boards and logs for protection, but fragments from shells still could not protect it and damaged the monument. In 1945, the monument to Krylov in the Summer Garden of St. Petersburg was restored, and you can see it like this to this day.
In the very center of the picturesque playground stands an interesting and unique monument to Krylov. A bronze statue of the famous Russian fabulist sits on a 3.5-meter granite pedestal, decorated with fable characters.
History of the creation of the monument
The monument to Krylov in St. Petersburg was erected in 1855 with private donations. The summer garden was not chosen by chance: it was here that the fabulist loved to walk.
The author of the monument, sculptor P. Klodt, initially wanted to depict Krylov in a Roman toga; this mood was inspired by the idealistic style of the times of Pushkin and Belinsky. However, he ultimately settled on a life-like image
Ivan Krylov
Upon examination, it seems that a slightly tired Ivan Andreevich, in his favorite long-skirted frock coat, which he wore in the last years of his life, sat down to rest on a stone.
A special spirituality is visible in the features of his face. It seems that he is about to begin writing a new fable in his book. In the appearance of I. Krylov there is no pretentiousness or embellishment, only a calm, thoughtful face, on which the sculptor skillfully depicted the mind and talent of the writer.
Granite pedestal
Of particular interest is the square pedestal decorated with fable characters. P. Klodt created animal figures from life. In his workshop lived a whole zoo: a mother bear with her cubs and a tamed wolf, a monkey brought by A.P. Bogolyubov from the island of Madeira, lambs, a donkey, a crane and other birds and animals. This is probably why the animals on the monument are depicted very realistically.
The sculptor felt an inexplicable hostility only towards the goat. The neighbor's grandmother brought her goat to the workshop every day for posing. Keeping a timid animal close to a wolf and a bear was not so easy. However, the owner’s great desire to immortalize her pet in bronze bore fruit: the grandmother dealt with the stubborn animal, and the figure of the goat on the pedestal turned out to be believable and natural.
Fable characters
Before creating the monument to Krylov, the sculptor read all of his works and depicted characters from 36 fables. Both adults and children recall half-forgotten verses based on the animals depicted. This explains the keen interest that the monument to Krylov invariably arouses among people. Photographs of fragments of the pedestal echo the lines of famous fables. Here's a naughty monkey and Did you recognize "The Town Musicians of Bremen"? And here “... The Crane stuck its nose up to the neck into the Wolf’s mouth...”
The fence, made in the eclectic style fashionable for those times, organically combines with the monument. It was installed 20 years after the work was completed and the pedestal was opened to avoid damage to the bas-reliefs.
Once Ivan Andreevich said that his animals from fables speak for him. This is probably why on the pedestal it is very modestly written: “To Krylov 1855.” And indeed, there is nothing to add, all that remains is to look at the monument to Krylov and remember the memorable lines from the instructive, not devoid of humor, fables.
Ivan Andreevich Krylov lived a rather long life. Like any person, he traveled to cities and villages of the country, but few stayed for long. Perhaps it was due to his phlegmatic temperament. Therefore, there are not many settlements in Russia in which his memory is immortalized. Let's talk about the main monuments erected in honor
Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the 19th century
Of the 75 years allotted to the writer by fate, he gave 60 to St. Petersburg. The poet came to this city as a 13-year-old boy, began publishing here and became famous. Peter's creation on the Neva became the fabulist's last refuge. He passed away in 1844 and was solemnly buried (in front of a huge crowd of people) at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. His tombstone is very simple, made according to a standard design. Apparently, even then it was clear that in the near future a figure of such stature as Krylov would be immortalized with dignity.
A year later, they began collecting money for the construction of the monument. Over the course of 3 years, they collected 30,000 rubles and held a competition for the best design of a monument to the poet. The winner was Baron Peter Karlovich von Klodt. At that time he was already known, primarily as the author of the famous horses on the Anichkov Bridge. In fact, according to Klodt’s original project, St. Petersburg should have looked different. The sculptor conceived it in a traditional manner: a powerful figure dressed in a Roman toga.
However, next to the main project, already then, in 1848, a sketch appeared, representing the prototype of today's monument. When it opened (in 1855), a completely unexpected Krylov appeared before the audience. Monuments of that time depicted the king, commander, and military leader symbolically, allegorically. This was a generalized hero, not a person, but his embodiment. And Klodt managed to convey a portrait resemblance to the original. His bronze poet sits on a bench in a working frock coat - relaxed, thoughtful. And the pedestal is decorated with figures of heroes from the author’s fables.
This monument became the first “writer’s” monument in St. Petersburg and the third in Russia. It was installed on one of the alleys. Firstly, because once upon a time, during the time of Peter I, there were statues of Aesop and the heroes of his fables. And secondly, because there are always a lot of children in this park.
Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the 20th century
In the last century, monuments appeared installed 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-tall bronze fabulist decorates the park near Victory Square. This is the only “standing” sculpture of the poet. However, a certain laziness is also evident in this monument - in the leg carelessly put forward and the hands folded behind the back.
The monument to Krylov in Moscow is located on the Patriarch's Ponds, which has been puzzling 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 talked with is completely unclear. By the way, the monument to Bulgakov never received registration in this magnificent area of Moscow. One way or another, the sculptural composition, including a seated Krylov and 12 heroes of his fables, still adorns the square to this day. There is a children's playground nearby, so it is very convenient to tell the kids about “Grandfather Krylov,” his Monkey, the heroes of “Quartet,” Crow with Cheese or Elephant and Moska. The work was carried out by architect Armen Chaltykyan, sculptors Andrei Drevin and Daniel Mitlyansky.
Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the 21st century
In 2004, another sculptural group associated with the name of Ivan Andreevich appeared in Pushkino (near Moscow, not near St. Petersburg). This time Krylov is sitting on a bench next to Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. A thin poet says something emotionally to a very plump fabulist. Both figures are made of bronze. Their author is Konstantin Konstantinov. The monument caused lively debate among local residents. The fact is that both writers have nothing to do with the town of Pushkino (despite its name), although they were actually friends. But the sculptural group is quite nice, children and tourists loved it.
Perhaps monuments to Krylov will appear in other cities - for example, in Serpukhov, where the fabulist lived for 2 years with his younger brother, Lev Andreevich.