Monuments reveal

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.
Read more »

Located on the border of Serbia and Romania, Decebalus face unique rock carved sculpture

Decebalus face unique rock carved sculpture
If your way passes through Serbia, then you can see the statue from the opposite bank of the river in good and clear weather. Route 25-1 passes along the Danube, at a slight distance from the high rocky coast. Leaving the car at the road, you can go to the shore through the forest (about 200-300 meters) and will see the monument behind the bridge. The distance to the nearest city of Tekiqa is about 11 kilometers.
Carved from a monolithic rock, the head of the last king of Dacians Decebalus is, in fact, the largest rock monument in Europe. Decebalus (87–106 AD) became famous for his frequent raids on the Roman Empire. According to belief, Decebalus, who did not want to give up, committed suicide by piercing himself with a sword.
Noteworthy, it took the sculptors ten years to create this impressive monument, completed in 2004. Twelve sculptors-climbers worked on a sculpture, which height is 40 meters and a width of 25 meters. Besides, the place not chosen by chance. Here, in the narrow canyon of the Danube, the Roman emperor Trajan in 105 won the final victory over the army of Dacia.
Read more »

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.”
Read more »

Opened in Moscow in 2012, on March 29 Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich monument. Work by the sculptor Alexandr Iulianovich Rukavishnikov, architect Igor Nikolaevich Voznesensky

Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich monument

Born March 27, 91 years ago, Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich was an outstanding cellist, pianist, conductor, and public figure. Also, he was a teacher, five-time Grammy Award winner, State Prize winner of Russia, People’s Artist of the USSR.
A bright memory to the Great Musician became a monument opened in Moscow in 2012, on March 29, not far from the so-called House of Composers in Bryusov Lane. The place, where the musician lived with his wife, the great opera diva Galina Pavlovna Vishnevskaya. In fact, the opening ceremony took place in the frame of celebration of 85-year anniversary of the birth of a famous musician and conductor.
The author of the sculptural composition was the sculptor Alexander Iulianovich Rukavishnikov, who worked in tandem with the architect Igor Nikolaevich Voznesensky.
Performed from bronze cello, bow and strings, as well as dynamism in the image of Rostropovich create the impression that from the pedestal will soon sound divine music.
Read more »

Bronze monument based on Anton Chekhov story ‘Romance with a double bass’. Sculptor Dmitry Lyndin. Opened in 12 September 2008 in Taganrog, Russia. Stories behind musical instrument monuments

Stories behind musical instrument monuments
Located on the avenue of Pushkinskaya Embankment, the monument “Romance with a double bass” appeared in Taganrog 12 September 2008.
Based on the eponymous humoresque of Anton Chekhov “Romance with a double bass”, it immediately became favorite of the townspeople. As a literary basis, the sculptor Dmitry Lyndin took the image of the young princess Bibulova. She, in an absurd combination of circumstances turned out to be locked in a case of this double bass. The graceful maiden figure cautiously peeps out of the case, and on the face of the beauty we see fright, while the elegant leg is ready to hide back.
Noteworthy, the instrument without a cover, and a lady without clothes. However, there is not a drop of vulgarity, because the love of music is not erotic, but platonic. At the heart of the idea is a simple and universally accessible metaphor. For its implementation, the sculptor chose an ideal shape: no sharp corners and smooth lines.
Read more »

Sculptural composition in Donetsk. Behind the symbolic Bear monuments

Behind the symbolic Bear monuments
Chosen as the animal symbol of Russia, the bear is truly the king of the forest. Although brown bear appears to be capable only of roaring, in fact, this is an intelligent beast. Having no equal in strength in the northern latitudes, the bear was worshiped by ancient Rusichs. They made multiple totems in the form of a bear and believed that such a guard would necessarily protect them from enemies, and would give strength in battle. In Russia and there was a cult of the bear.
Meanwhile, the cutest image of bear quite recently has become a famous character of the cartoon “Masha and Bear”.
Sculptures of Masha and the Bear are available in several regions of Russia and other countries. In particular, Sterlitamak (Bashkortostan), Kemerovo and Tashtagol (Kemerovo Region), Volgograd, Elani and Surovikin (Volgograd Region), Kuznetsk (Penza Region), Emanzhelinsk (Chelyabinsk Region), Vileyka (Minsk region, Byelorussia), and Bryansk (Bryansk region). Besides, in other cities featured here – Blagoveshchensk, Donetsk, Perm, Yevpatoria, and Sochi.
Read more »

Impressive sculptures of roosters created by British sculptor. James Doran-Webb driftwood animal sculpture

James Doran-Webb driftwood animal sculpture

Born in 1967, Doran-Webb is a British sculptor living in the Philippines. James spent his early childhood in Devon. Meanwhile, his parents, art historians and antique researchers, travelled a lot and took James with them. Accordingly, he spent his teenage years in various cities getting acquainted with the antiques restoration and, in particular, with art. In addition, he had to change cities and schools during his traveling. Basel, Switzerland, Italy, the US and France… Having returned to London he entered The Courtold Institute to study art. However, very soon he had started his own antiques business selling items at Portobello Market.
Read more »