"DSC00856-9_Panorama, Street near Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia"
by jimg944 of flickr
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Description:
Rich in history, St. Petersburg is also known as the main focus of the revolution that took place at the beginning of the 20th century. The Palace Square is best known as being the center of many of the early political struggles. It was here that “Bloody Sunday” took place, starting the revolution of 1905. History is that on Sunday, January 9, 1905 the revolution began with striking workers and their families marching for relief from Nicholas II. The marchers were met by soldiers who fired into the crowd, killing hundreds of demonstrators.
Etienne Falconet, a Frenchman, sculpted the Bronze Horseman, long considered one of the city’s most symbolic monuments. Catherine the Great commissioned the statue to pay tribute to the philosophy of enlightened absolutism she shared with Peter the Great. From different angles the statue reveals benevolence, malevolence, inspiration and terror.
For most of history this statue has been a symbol of tyranny and destruction. It is only in recent years that the Bronze Horseman has become appreciated as a work of art.
Also near the Palace Square is the Alexander Column, a monument to the defeat of Napoleon in 1812. The column was designed by Auguste de Montferrand and took two years to build. It was cut from the rock face of a cliff in Karelia. After completion, it was slowly transported to St. Petersburg, taking a year for the full trip.
Surmounted by an angel of peace, the column was erected by 2,000 veterans of the war. This, too, conforms to the geometric formality of the Imperial structures and is positioned in perfect alignment with the entrance to the Winter Palace.
See set comments for “St. Petersburg Overview & History”.
This panoramic photo was created from 4 original images and stitched with Panorama Factory.
