Monuments reveal

Soviet prima ballerina Alla Yakovlevna Shelest (1919-1998), Marble. Sculptor A. G. Dema, architects S. L. Mikhailov and N. N. Sokolov. 2000. Photo by Alexandra Solovyova. Ballerina Alla Shelest monument in Volkovo cemetery, Literary bridges in St.Petersburg

Ballerina Alla Shelest monument in Volkovo cemetery
According to Mstislav Rostropovich, Shelest was “bright on the stage and closed in life”. And the legendary Plisetskaya considered her one of the best dancers she had ever seen.
Alla Shelest was an outstanding classic ballerina of a romantic, heroic and tragic plan. But a rare ballerina was not so unlucky as Shelest.
At the age of fifteen, Shelest came to the class of Vaganova. The change in aesthetic and pedagogical requirements was too harsh and could not help leaving a trace … In the theater Shelest expected even greater difficulties. The life of a great ballerina was not strewn with roses. During the war she lived and worked in a besieged city, every day faced starvation and shelling in blocked Leningrad. For sixteen years she was doomed to duplicate the first performer of new parties … Nevertheless, Shelest achieved much. ”
According to famous ballerina Galina Ulanova, each performance of Shelest – not only the talent of the ballerina, but also the mind, and the great inner culture of the true artist. The ballerina is tragic and inspired, and always recognized by emotionality and selflessness of the dancer.”
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A mourning girl with a wreath in her hand – grave sculpture. Volkovo cemetery Necropolis Literary Bridges

Volkovo cemetery Necropolis Literary Bridges
Once a writer, Vsevolod Garshin, known to everyone since childhood as the author of “Frogs-Travelers,” said: “Summer, heat and longing. I want to go somewhere far away from the stone, into the greenery, into some quiet place, where the noise of the city does not reach and where there is no crowd. It is difficult to find such a secluded place: the gardens are full of people, dacha places too. I’ll go to the cemetery. If bored among the living, then where to go, if not to the dead? Talking to them, that is, reading their books. I’m tired, and going to see where they are … ”
So, six years before his tragic death, the writer spoke about the “Literary Bridge” Necropolis of St. Petersburg Volkovo cemetery, and where he rests in peace himself. Many years have passed, but we are experiencing the same feelings today when we are walking along this unique necropolis!
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Symbolic for Vakhtangov Theater, Capricious Princess Turandot fountain sculpture. Author – Alexander Nikolaevich Burganov (born March 20, 1935)

Capricious Princess Turandot fountain sculpture

Who is Princess Turandot? According to legend, Turandot is the proud and self-willed daughter of the Chinese Emperor Altoom. In general, she is famous for her refuses to marry. And the reason is that she is sure that all men are “insidious, deceitful in heart, and they can not love.” So, to avoid a hated marriage and not upset her father, who because of her led many wars, Turandot comes up with a cunning plan. In particular, she asks to inform everyone that any prince may have a chance to marry her. But provided that she will offer the applicant three riddles, and a prince who can solve the riddles will become her husband. However, who won’t be able to solve them – will lose his head.
Meanwhile, the golden sculpture of the princess is part of the fountain, known as the “Princess Turandot” Fountain. Located on Arbat Street in Moscow, the fountain appeared in 1997 in front of the entrance of the E.Vakhtangov Theater. In addition, it commemorates the 850th anniversary of Moscow and the 75th anniversary of the production of “The Princess Turandot” by Carlo Gozzi’s fairy tale.
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Tondo Female portrait. 1465 glazed terracotta. National Museum of Bargello, Florence. Work by Italian Renaissance sculptor Luca della Robbia (1399 or 1400 – 23 February 1482), mainly remembered as a pioneer of colored glazed terracotta as a sculptural medium

Italian Renaissance sculptor Luca della Robbia
Sculptor and jeweler of the Renaissance, full name was Luca di Simone della Robbia, the founder of the dynasty of artists, he devoted his whole long life to the service of art. Born in Florence in 1399 or 1400, trained in textiles and as a goldsmith before sculpture, however, he became known as a prolific sculptor of the early Renaissance. Patronized by the Medici, he achieved fame and wealth through glazed terracotta artworks. He performed many works, which rightfully occupy a prominent place in the history of the sculpture of the Renaissance. Worked in stone and terracotta, he was the follower of the humanistic movement. Noteworthy, he invented a type of representation of the Virgin and Child shown half-length in white on a blue background that proved highly popular. Set up successful studio in Florence, he kept the formula of his tin glazes a secret. However, the technical formula soon became the basis of a flourishing business. Worked closely with his nephew Andrea della Robbia (1435–1525). Unfortunately, Luca’s successors tended to sentimentalize his warm humanity.
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Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City. Story behind Haserot Black Angel monument

Story behind Haserot Black Angel monument

You probably saw the image of this gloomy angel more than once. This is the black angel named Haserot and here is his story.
A black statue of an angel stands in Oakland Cemetery, in Iowa City. It stands over the graves of three people: a woman, her husband and her son. This statue has a rather strange look. Most of the angels in the cemetery usually stand with their heads raised and their wings spread, symbolically striving for paradise. However, the wings of the black angel are not straightened and he looks to the ground … to hell.
The Black Angel also has a very grim expression, with cold, strange eyes and empty eyelids. Many people are nervous. Visitors to the cemetery often said that they feel uncomfortable in the immediate vicinity of the statue. They claim that they thought the statue was following them.
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Autumn angel. Moscow necropolis – Vvedensky cemetery monuments

Moscow necropolis – Vvedensky cemetery monuments
The more I look at the monuments and sculptures, I come to the conclusion that the most touching and impressive monuments are in the cemeteries. For example Vvedenskoye cemetery, which, in addition, according to local residents, hides many secrets. A dead hand and a gravestone on wheels, underground catacombs and inscriptions on the crypt, a sacred “Vampirka” and a recipe for salad olivier blown to the grave.
One of the most picturesque, if I may say so, cemeteries of the capital emerged in 1771 during the Moscow plague. Initially, mainly people of the Catholic and Lutheran faith, popularly called “Germans” were burried here.
The patina of neglect, inherent in any churchyard, is special here – natural, lively, filled with romance. Along the avenues and paths stretch plaster vases and marble crucifixes, tombstones with Gothic inscriptions and unusual chapels, mournful female figures and angels with wings down. There is a special charm in leisurely walks along the Vvedensky cemetery. Squeezing between the fences and analyzing the inscriptions on the tombstones, you experience not only sorrow and despondency, but also the need to reflect, open the book, get acquainted with the stories hidden behind the monuments to the departed people.
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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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