Category Archive: Architecture

A furtive glance, the strands of untidy hair thrown back and the nightgown slipping from her shoulders – Bust of Costanza Buonarelli, 1636. Beloved woman of Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini (7 December 1598 – 28 November 1680)

Beloved woman of Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini

The swarm of runners scattered along the stone pavement and broke the silence of the morning city. The younger brother flew ahead with a distraught look, and the older one raced after him. Already in the cathedral, catching him up, he raised over his younger brother’s head an instrument of violence … Lorenzo Bernini, one of the brilliant artists of Rome, favorite of popes and the audience, resembled the biblical Cain who is about to will bring down his anger on the head of the unfortunate Abel.
Meanwhile, it all happened because of the one whose marble bust Bernini sculpted – Costanza Buonarelli. A furtive glance, the strands of untidy hair thrown back and the nightgown slipping from her shoulders – such was the lover from under the chisel of Lorenzo.
Traditionally, the bust portraits in marble could have only kings, popes and other wealthy persons, and certainly men. But not half-naked women… However, Bernini didn’t care any canons and rules. Since childhood, Giovanni Lorenzo, or just Lorenzo, considered himself a man who can do a lot.
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According to local historians, the statue which adorned Tverskaya Street in Moscow depicts Lepeshinskaya, famous Russian ballerina. Work by sculptor Gennady Motovilov. Outstanding ballerina Olga Lepeshinskaya monuments

Outstanding ballerina Olga Lepeshinskaya monuments
Once, the statue of the “ballerina” adorned the house on Tverskaya Street (former Gorky Street) in Moscow. However, the authorities removed the monument 60 years ago, in 1958. According to one version, because the rulers did not like to drive “under the skirt”.
Meanwhile, the local historians state that the statue depicts a ballerina Olga Lepeshinskaya, who allegedly lived in the same house. In favor of this version, was the fact that Stalin, who determined the appearance of Gorky Street, often visited the productions with her participation.
However, four times Stalin prize winner Lepeshinskaya herself denied this fact. Here is her answer: “I never lived there and nobody sculpted a statue from me. But the fact is that at the beginning of the war I was on duty on this roof, extinguished German lighters.”
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Sterlitamak, Russia. Work by sculptor Valentin Mikhailovich Rechikov, St. Petersburg. Mythological bird Sirin monuments

Mythological bird Sirin monuments

The sculpture of the mythological bird Sirin appeared in the Russian city of Sterlitamak in 2015. According to the Slavic and, in particular Russian mythology, Sirin is a wonderful bird of paradise, possessing a charming voice. In medieval Russian legends, sometimes it flies to earth and sings prophetic songs about the coming bliss, but sometimes these songs can prove harmful to a person – you can lose your mind. Therefore, in some legends, Sirin acquires a negative value, so that it even begins to be considered a dark bird, a messenger of the underworld. The Sirin bird is afraid of loud sounds, so to scare it off, people ring bells, shoot guns, and blow trumpets.
The author of the sculpture is Valentin Mikhailovich Rechikov, St. Petersburg. Born in 1954 in the village of Volovo, Moscow Region – Meshchera on the river Pra. He graduated from the Higher Art and Industrial School of VI Mukhina in 1991. Participant of more than 100 exhibitions and more than 10 symposia on stone, wood in Russia and abroad.
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Happy Well of Angels in St. Petersburg

Happy Well of Angels in St. Petersburg

In general, angels live only in heaven. However, immortalized in monuments, angels may live anywhere – from cemeteries and crypts to gardens and streets. For instance, St. Petersburg angels, known also as Well Angels. By nature, the angels are patrons and protectors of people. And descend from heaven to earth St. Petersburg angels can help the suffering and will not let die of thirst. They are guardian angels of the source with life-giving moisture. According to the locals, if you wash your face with the water from this fountain, you will feel better. Some even believe in the full recovery of possible illness. Besides, you can make a wish – and it will come true.
Undoubtedly, the Fountain “Well of Angels” is one of the unusual architectural sights of St. Petersburg. The sculptural composition around the fountain consists of several figures. In particular, a beautiful girl and five angels who help her to draw water in the well.
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The most striking findings are stone-carved horses with two, three, and sometimes four horsemen. 200 stone sculptures found by Russian-Indian expedition

200 stone sculptures found by Russian-Indian expedition
The Russian-Indian expedition found about 200 stone sculptures of horsemen and plates with images of people and animals. Also, stone pedestals and stone basins covered in stone. In particular, the expedition took place in the Pir-Panjal Mountains (Small Himalayas) at a height of two thousand meters. Noteworthy, the presumed age of stone statues is the 6th-7th centuries.
Meanwhile, he most striking findings include stone-carved horses with two, three, and sometimes four horsemen. Costumes of warriors, their weapons, equipment and harness amaze with an abundance of details. However, the faces of the riders are devoid of individuality, although in each of them is a certain generalized image of the warrior.
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Located near Budapest in Székesfehérvár monument to eternal love Jeno Bory castle

Hungarian monument to eternal love Jeno Bory castle
Located near Budapest in Székesfehérvár, this castle is the architectural embodiment of the love of Jeno Bory to the beautiful Ilona. Everything in the castle is dedicated to her. On the walls – the words of love, in the halls – portraits and sculptures of Ilona. Noteworthy, Ilona and Yeno have lived together for 50 years.
Hungarian architect and sculptor Jeno Bory (9 November 1879, Szekesfehervar – 20 December 1959, Szekesfehervar) promised his beloved wife to build a castle for her, in which their life together would resemble a fairy tale. And since Bory was an architect and sculptor, he kept his promis. In fact, for the construction of the castle, Bory spent almost 40 years.
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‘Piety and Justice’ sculptural group on the buildings of the Senate and the Synod – Senate Square, St. Petersburg, Russia. Work by sculptor Vasily Demut-Malinovsky (1779 – July 16, 1846). Co-authors Stepan Pimenov, Nikolai Tokarev and Pavel Sokolov

Empire style sculptor Vasily Demut-Malinovsky

Some of the most spectacular buildings of the architect Carlo Rossi are the buildings of the Senate and the Synod. The ensemble consists of two buildings connected by a majestic arch decorated with the picturesque sculptural group “Piety and Justice”. In fact, it symbolizes the unity of the church and the state, giving the buildings even more splendor and elegance. Vasily Demut Malinovsky, in co-authorship with Stepan Pimenov, Nikolai Tokarev and Pavel Sokolov, created monuments reminding unfaithful about the punishing sword of justice.
Works by Russian sculptor of the Empire style Vasily Ivanovich Demuth-Malinovsky (1779 – July 16, 1846) decorate St. Petersburg buildings and squares. In particular, the Kazan Cathedral, the arch of the General Staff, the Mikhailovsky Palace, the Mining Institute, the Narva Triumphal Gates, and the building of the Imperial Public Library. Besides, his works include the marble bust of Emperor Alexander I, preserved in National Library and the monument to Vladimir the Great in Kiev.
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