Description of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky. The history of the creation and the author of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow

The history of the country and the people can not be accommodated on scanty pages of textbooks or lengthy reasoning of monographs. It manifests itself in the names of streets of populated areas, the facades of old buildings - monuments of architecture, monuments and sculptures in honor of certain important dates and great personalities. About one such composition, which has become a visiting card of Moscow, we will talk in this article.

Folk heroes

Red Square, the Kremlin, chimes, St. Basil's Cathedral - the main sights of the capital, its symbols. However, their list is incomplete without one more important structure. The description of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, with a detailed explanation of what kind of folk heroes are and what are famous, is included in all tourist handouts and guidebooks around the city. It is understandable. After all, the majestic sculptural composition, cast from copper and brass, has been rising near the Kremlin for nearly two centuries. And it is already impossible to imagine the heart of Moscow without its heroic defenders, as if by the very history set here for ages to protect the peace and tranquility of citizens. A description of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky will be incomprehensible without a tour in times long past, in the era of the Time of Troubles.

Appearance of the monument

Sculpture embodies the ideals of high citizenship, patriotism, personal consciousness and filial duty to the homeland, which inspired her prototypes to perform their feat. Its heroes are representatives of the national militia Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky. The first one stands at full length, vigorously throwing back his hand, pointing in this invocatory gesture to Moscow, which must be defended against the Polish invaders. He hands his sword-mate a sword so that as a commander he leads the troops of the people's militia. The base of the monument is decorated with bas-reliefs.

Characteristics of images

The description of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky says that the figure of Minin attracts attention in the first place. It forms the semantic center of the monument. With his famous gesture, Kuzma calls the whole nation - not only contemporaries, but also future generations - to defend the Fatherland from any encroachment on its independence.

The proud face reminds the correct expressive features portraits of the heroes of antiquity. But the beard and the hair trimmed with a "brace" point to the clearly Russian, folksy origin of the hero. His shirt, on the one hand, is clearly peasant kosovorotka. At the same time, it is associated with the Greek chiton. Thus, the description of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky is based on primordially Russian and ancient traditions. This further exalts the feat of the people's heroes. It is characteristic that it was the commoner, the person of the town, who was chosen by the sculptor for the basis of the composition. A powerful torso, a wide step - all puffs with strength, energy, inspiration, confidence in the rightness of the case, in whose name the hero rose to fight. The monument to Minin and Pozharsky has been fixed, and the second character of the composition is as important as it is. Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich was wounded, but Minin's appeal does not leave him indifferent. Pozharsky rises from the bed, one hand grabbing the sword, the other leaning on the shield. His gestures are also vigorous, the will and determination are felt in his hands. And the image of the Savior on the shield affirms the sacredness of the heroism of the defenders of Moscow and Russia. The sword in the sculpture is not only a weapon, but also a symbol of military valor, unity of the aspirations and intentions of the characters, awakening the consciousness of the people in the hour of trouble and military hard times.

The first bas-relief

The author of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky is the sculptor Ivan Martos. He decorated the foundation of his work with two allegorical bas-reliefs. The faculty tells how Minin collects donations for the people's army. The author depicted the mournful and majestic figures of women in kokoshniks - peasant women and boyarshin, who give their values to the needs of the army. Their kneeling silhouettes symbolize the holiness of the act. Amplify the impression of male figures. This is the father who gives the army two sons. Such a plot was introduced not accidentally by Martos. Monument to Minin and Pozharsky glorifies another feat of Russian weapons - the Patriotic War of 1812. In the army Kutuzov fought and died one of the sons of the sculptor. Representing the scene of the parental blessing, the author of the monument emphasizes the spiritual connection and continuity of generations, the glorious traditions of heroism. Above the facial bas-relief is decorated with a thanksgiving inscription.

Second bas-relief

The second bas-relief sculptor of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky dedicated battle scenes. He depicted episodes of the battles of a Russian army led by a prince whose horse trampled on the hoofs of Polish soldiers. Those run up in panic and look back at the courageous, concentrated and stern faces of the militia. This shows the liberation of Moscow. This bas-relief, like the previous one, is full of dynamics, expressiveness and vital certainty. But, emphasizing the people's basis of Russian heroism, Martos still places on the front side scenes of collecting donations.

Historical Background

And now a few words about what the monument to Minin and Pozharsky was erected about. Moscow began in the distant 17th century. Troubled times, as they were nicknamed in the history of Russia. After the death of Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov, the country, weakened by boyar intrigues for the throne and power, was a tasty morsel for the enemies: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Swedes and the Germans. And although their first invasion, led by Falsdmitry, ended in defeat, peace and peace did not come to the Russian land. 1610 was a turning point in this struggle. When, at the "Semiboyar", the gates of Moscow were opened before the Poles and an agreement was signed to summon Vladislav Sigismundovich to the kingdom, Minin and Pozharsky rallied the people, organized the militia and saved the Fatherland. The first collected funds for the Russian army, the second led the Russian people, led to the fight. About 3 years of intense war were crowned with the victory of Russian weapons. Russia was saved.

History of the monument

The idea to embody in the sculpture the memory of the liberation of Russia from the Polish invasion belongs to the members of the "Free Society of Lovers of Literature, Science and Arts". In 1803, they organized a donation collection for the monument. At first, the sculpture was thought to be installed in Nizhny Novgorod, the homeland of the militia. Emperor Alexander approved the idea and issued a decree in every way to promote the development of projects. Among the contestants who exhibited their versions of the monument, Martos was undoubtedly the winner. Considering the enormous ideological and patriotic importance of the project, it was decided by the highest command to establish a composition in Moscow, and in Nizhny Novgorod - an obelisk made of marble. After the victory in the war of 1812, the significance of the project increased even more. When the monument was opened, a solemn parade of troops was held. Since then, and he adorns Moscow - the first monument in Russia in honor of the people-liberators!