Among the sights of Moscow, one of the first monuments stands out, dedicated not to rulers, but to national heroes, defenders of the Moscow state. This monument is located near St. Basil's Cathedral (Cathedral of the Protection of the Holy Virgin on the Moat) on Red Square. Before describing the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, let's look at the history of its creation.
Years of building the monument and donations
The history of the monument to Pozharsky and Minin began even before the First World War. The monument was erected in 1818 at the place chosen by the sculptor Martos Ivan Petrovich contrary to the command of Tsar Alexander I. Fundraising for the construction of the monument is imprinted on the front bas-relief of the pedestal.
Men and women with abundant donations are depicted in two separate groups. Women, moving smoothly, give jewelry and jewelry. Their significant and solemn poses show how important fundraising actions are for a good cause for the glory of the Fatherland. Antique clothes of kneeling women - a tribute to the times. However, the sculptor showed them in Russian kokoshniks. Men depicted on the bas-relief also bring generous gifts.
A word about the author of the monument
The creation of the monument by the sculptor Martos Ivan Petrovich coincided with the rise of the patriotic consciousness of the people during the war with the Napoleonic troops. After manufacturing, the monument was transported to Moscow from St. Petersburg by river. The author of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky invested civil pathos and patriotism in the figures created from bronze. For this work I.P. Martos was granted an annual life-long pension and the title of full state councilor. Working on the sculpture from 1804 to 1817, Martos created his best work, embodying patriotic ideals in it.
Being the academician and rector of sculpture at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, in these years Martos was engaged in the manufacture of tombstones. His art is represented by memorial plastics in complex sculptural compositions for tombstones of the aristocracy. The monument to Minin and Pozharsky, the description and design of which is based on a plot taken from an old engraving, won a difficult competition.
Monument to Russian Unity
The monument to Minin and Pozharsky, a description of it in the directories has long been considered a kind of visiting card of the capital of Russia. Minin, raising his hand high in a call-up gesture, convinces Pozharsky to head the people's army. The governor, despite his wounds, rises, leaning on his shield. His posture symbolically shows the awakening national identity in times of troubles and difficulties for Russia.
Meaning
Minin's upraised hand calls not only Pozharsky for action. This is a peculiar appeal to the whole Russian people, a call to struggle.
The mood and will of people is visually conveyed by a monument to Minin and Pozharsky created with public donated funds. The description of the courageous face of Minin, despite his truly peasant hairstyle, suggests that he resembles Zeus in his determination. Antique chitons of characters are trimmed with traditional Russian patterns around the edge, which gives them a resemblance to a Russian shirt.
The figure of Pozharsky, weakened by his wounds, clearly shows a decisive response to the admonitions of his comrade-in-arms to lead the popular resistance army. With one hand resting on his shield with the image of the Savior, the Voivode rises from his bed. His second hand rests on the sword extended by Minin. Their hands touch and cross on him. The image of this gesture symbolically connects the figures of warriors, indicating their unity.
Where did the plot for the sculpture come from?
The sculptor of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky embodied in bronze the plot, taken from an old engraving. The work of an unknown author was dedicated to the victory of Russian militias in the Polish-Russian war of 1605-1613. In these troubled times, power over the Russian throne passed from one hand to another. It got to the point that a certain prince gave Sweden original Russian lands for military foreign assistance. False Dmitry, false heirs of thrones fought among themselves. Military coups and killings of direct heirs ruled the state.
By the beginning of the 17th century, all direct descendants of Daniel of Moscow were dead or died in battle. The division of power led to turmoil and uprisings of cities. Almost every boyar wanted to become king. The impostors, using the name of the murdered Tsarevich Dmitry, gathered troops and conducted military operations to seize the throne and Moscow.
False Dmitry I, II, III, the Polish army and Swedish claims to Russian lands
Confusion, conspiracies and anarchy reigned in Russia after the death of Boris Godunov. The specific princes fought among themselves. Impostors, hiding behind the name of the Tsarevich, recruited themselves in the army of Polish lords who participated in rebellions against their king. They had no way home, to Poland.
The King of Poland, having views of the Russian throne and the land, used the situation to his advantage. Having overthrown Shuisky sitting on the throne, Moscow boyars let in the Polish army into the city. Under the Poles were Borisov, Bereya, Mozhaysk. Complete disorder and anarchy reigned in the country.
The Swedish authorities, offering their help to the Russians, requested Livonia (Karelia). Subsequently, the Swedes captured the coastal sections of the White and Barents Seas, captured Ladoga, Oreshok, Tikhvin.
Militia
It was at this time that Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky organized a militia in Nizhny Novgorod. It was a regular army, consisting of service people and nobles.
The wise prince Pozharsky diplomatically agreed with the Swedes and managed to drive the Polish gentry out of Moscow along with several dozen traitors-boyars. The princes of several cities joined him. Pozharsky made a big mistake by dissolving the militia nobles. The armed Cossack detachments, having weaned from normal peaceful life during the war years, destroyed Pozharsky and seated Mikhail Romanov on the throne .
Moving the monument to a new place
In front of St. Basil’s Cathedral, a monument to Minin and Pozharsky was erected in Moscow . A description of the events associated with the rearrangement of the monument to this place requires a return to the 30s of the last century. The author of the monument chose a place for his creation in the center of the square, in front of the Upper Trading Rows. In the sculptural composition, Minin calls on Pozharsky to raise the people's militia to storm the Kremlin, where the Polish gentry hid, pointing with their hand to the closed gates and to the Kremlin itself. His gates opened after this assault.
According to one version, the current location of the sculpture was chosen by the Soviet government for the convenience of holding military parades with heavy military equipment of the Soviet Army.
Another version differently describes the reason for the transfer of the monument. In its original location, Minin pointed out to Pozharsky the Kremlin with the Poles locked up there and their minions. After the construction of the mausoleum, it turned out that Minin’s hand points to the tomb of the leader of the proletariat and to the Kremlin’s locked gates again. It is possible that both of these factors caused the “moving” of the historical monument to St. Basil’s Cathedral.
Having established a monument to Minin and Pozharsky after the victory over the French in the center of Red Square , Moscow and the whole country, represented by the tsar, recognized the ability and desire of the invincible Russian people to unity, order and state integrity.