page_title: Suvorov Monument (Saint Petersburg)
section_title: Design and execution
hierarchical_section_title: Suvorov Monument (Saint Petersburg) / Design and execution
caption_attribution_description: English: To the right, Alexander Suvorov Monument (inaugurated in 1801; sculptor, М. Kozlovsky; casted by V. Yekimov). In the foreground, beyond the Field of Mars (Tsaritsyn Lug, Tsarina's Meadow); to the left, a corner of the Marble Palace (1768—85, designed by A. Rinaldi); close to it, the administrative building of the Marble Palace (1780—88, designed by P. Yegorov), the obelisque erected to the memory of Count Rumiantsev's victories (1799, designed by B. Brenna); to the right, the house of F. Groothen—N. Saltykov (1784—88, designed by G. Quarenghi), and I. Betsky's house (construction went on from 1784; designed supposedly by I. Starov). In the background, to the right, the Summer Gardens.
context_page_description: The Suvorov Monument is a bronze sculpture of Generalissimo Alexander Suvorov located in Saint Petersburg. It is at the centre of Suvorov Square, opposite the Field of Mars and the Trinity Bridge, and between the Marble Palace and the Saltykov Mansion.
  Commissioned in 1799 by Emperor Paul I to commemorate Suvorov's Italian expedition that year, the execution was entrusted to sculptor Mikhail Kozlovsky. His design was approved in early 1800, and depicted Suvorov in the allegorical guise of the god Mars. The sculpture was cast in bronze, but neither Paul nor Suvorov lived to see its unveiling, which took place in May 1801. The monument marked a number of firsts, it was the first monument in Russia to someone other than a member of the Imperial family, and the first time that a monument had been ordered during the subject's lifetime. It was also first major monument created entirely by Russian craftsmen.
  The monument was originally planned to be located in Gatchina, though the site was changed to the Tsaritsyn Meadows, later the Field of Mars. It was unveiled in the presence of Emperor Alexander I, many of his generals, and Suvorov's son Arkadi.
context_section_description: The figure of Suvorov was sculpted in bronze by Mikhail Kozlovsky between 1799 to 1801, with his proposed design being approved in January 1800. Suvorov is depicted in the allegorical guise of the god Mars, with a raised sword in his right hand and with a shield in his left, in classical armour and helmet. The face of the figure does not exactly resemble Suvorov, but is intended to be symbolic of a "heroic" figure. The figure stands beside an altar with reliefs of Faith, Hope and Love, on which the papal tiara and crowns of Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia are placed, protected by the figure's shield, which bears the Russian coat of arms. The cartouche on the pedestal is supported by figures representing the genius of Glory.
  The monument was cast in bronze by Vasily Ekimov in the foundry workshop of the Imperial Academy of Arts, with the bronze bas-relief on the pedestal sculpted by Fyodor Gordeyev. In the agreement with Ekimov signed on 12 October 1800, it was arranged that the statue would be cast and polished by 1 April 1801.  The foundry however was experiencing a particularly heavy workload, with the gates for the Mikhailovsky Castle, and statues, bowls and vases for the Grand Cascade at the Peterhof Palace being cast there, resulting in some delays for the monument. The pedestal was made of marble to the design of Andrey Voronikhin, using materials left over from the construction of Saint Isaac's Cathedral. Kozlovsky made several complaints against the contractors building the pedestal, accusing them of poor workmanship. As completed, the statue stands 3.37 metres (11.1 ft), with the pedestal 4.05 metres (13.3 ft) high. It was officially unveiled on 17 May [O.S. 5 May] 1801. It was the first monument in Russia to someone other than a member of the Imperial family or its earlier predecessors, and the first time that a monument had been ordered during the subject's lifetime. It was also first major monument created entirely by Russian craftsmen. In the event, neither Suvorov nor Paul lived to see its completion. Suvorov died in May 1800, while Paul was killed during a palace coup in March 1801. Instead the new emperor, Paul's son, Alexander I, attended the unveiling, along with many of his generals, and Suvorov's son Arkadi.
caption: The monument, at right, in its original location in 1807, in the Field of Mars
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