Lions on the palace embankment. Lions of the palace pier. There would be no restorations, but the tourists helped
Music: Jean - Yves Thibaudet - Love Letters
Petersburg can be called a city of lions,
because these representatives of the cat family -
from cast iron, gypsum, marble and copper -
a great multitude scattered along the streets of St. Petersburg!
* * *
At Kushelev's dacha - Bezborodko.
right there...
From somewhere I heard that the building is guarded by 22 lions.
For some reason, I counted 24, namely:
on the one hand 12, and I mean that on the other - the same number ...))
How many are there really?
Here's what one official source says:
"29 cast-iron lions sat in one long row along the metal lattice that encloses the territory of the former
estates of A.G. Kushelev-Bezborodko.
The portcullis with lions was built in the late 1790s at the same time as the pier guarded by four sphinxes.
There are lions near the house number 40 on Polyustrovskaya embankment.
Previously, they held a cast-iron chain in their mouths." ...... Evona how!))
Bank bridge on the Griboyedov Canal
A bit of history:
The suspension bridge itself was built in 1825-1826 according to the design of Wilhelm von Tretter. And the bridge owes the appearance of griffins to P.P. Sokolov.
Now the question arises. Why were griffins planted on the Bank Bridge?
The fact is that the bridge is located in front of the building of the former Assignation Bank. And according to mythology, the duty of griffins is to protect treasures. So these lions with eagle wings guarded the gold reserves of the Russian State. By the way, there is a belief among the townspeople that if you rub the paw of a griffin, wealth will not pass you by.
I suggest checking it out just in case. ;) If this is true, then in the very near future you will be able to buy a tour to Dombai and spend an unforgettable vacation there.))
right there... 
Right there...
Bank bridge -
one of the most beautiful places in St. Petersburg, isn't it?))
* * * * *
Palace pier.
The very first king of animals arrived in St. Petersburg in 1722
from Venice - Peter I ordered it for a sculpture symbolizing the victory of Russia over Sweden (this monument still flaunts in the Summer Garden).
But most of all lion statues were “brought up” in St. Petersburg in the 19th century - then it was fashionable for homeowners to decorate the gates or steps of mansions with a couple of respectable beasts. In addition to houses, predators guard the slopes to the Neva and numerous bridges,
however, the most famous St. Petersburg lions settled
In 1832 at the Palace Pier opposite the Admiralty.
These copper sculptures were made according to the drawings of Carlo Rossi, and since they are paired, they are not bored - especially since the creators provided them with balls that you can play with when no one is watching.
But in front of witnesses, the lions behave very seriously:
claws out and teeth bared.
* * *
Palace pier.
Admiralteyskaya Embankment, next to the Palace Bridge.
right there...
right there...
right there...
* * *
Lviny bridge in the alignment of Malaya Podyacheskaya street,
Griboyedov Canal
there
right there...
right there...
* * *
Shuvalovsky Park, 1
right there...
In Peterhof
Datsan. Primorsky prospect, 91.
Shi-Dza (Chinese lion from Manchuria).
Petrovskaya embankment, next to the museum "House of Peter the Great"
Manezhnaya Square, Karavannaya street, 1.
On Malaya Sadovaya at the entrance to the Vietnamese restaurant "Mekong"
University embankment.
* * *
****
Moika embankment, 59,
Eliseevsky Palace Hotel
Ibid
***
Embankment Makarova, 4
there
there
* * *
Nevsky prospect, 72,
at the entrance to the hotel "Red Terem"
* * *
Pavlovsk is a suburb of St. Petersburg.
Large stone staircase.
right there...
there
* * *
Prospect Veteranov, 109.
G. Pushkin - a suburb of St. Petersburg.
Guard lion on St. Isaac's Square.
* * *
Russian Ethnographic Museum.
A gift from the state of Israel to St. Petersburg for the 300th anniversary of the city.
Sculpture: length - 3m, width - 2.5m, height - 2m
At Elagin Palace.
At the building of the Nikolaev Military Academy.
/ the author of the photo claims that this is the only LYING lion in St. Petersburg.
But along the way, I became convinced that this is not so!)) /
* * *
Russian Museum, aka Mikhailovsky Castle
right there... 
right there...
* * *
And here are some lions, whose addresses I do not know,
or lions are simply unrecognized.
I'd be grateful if you could give me some advice! :)
№ 1
№ 2
№ 3
№ 4
At the entrance of a cafe...
... pathetic parody! But this is a personal opinion...
* * * Lions on the facade of buildings. * * *
Unfortunately, I can't provide all addresses.
Let's just love it!
Coat of arms of Yusupov at the Yusupov Palace
Kamennoostorovsky prospect, 9\2
... however, the lattice of the bridge ... (but which one? - tell me!)
He was nicknamed "The Kissing Lion"))
I don't remember the address exactly. Looks like Petropavlovka...
(Who knows, tell me!)
But what about sphinxes and griffons?
Let's classify them as lions too!))
Every Petersburger can say with a great deal of confidence that one of the most fascinating places in the city is Admiralteyskaya Embankment with mysterious lions. Royal animals add mysticism to romantic walks in these places. Enjoying great popularity in St. Petersburg, the brass guard lions are an exact replica of the guard lions in Florence. With the only difference: overseas lions are made of stone. Nevertheless, in the Northern capital, the kings of beasts are so popular with tourists that they have repeatedly suffered from those who want to climb the figures more carefully and higher in order to catch a good angle for shooting.
And the animals are not young - almost 200 years old. Serious number! The date of birth of the majestic statues made of thin sheet copper is 1832. Master Prang was engaged in the manufacture of graceful cats at the Alexander iron foundry. And for casting they used plaster casts from Florentine relatives. In the same year, figures and vases became the main decoration of the descent to the Neva. A little later, the vases were moved to the Petrovsky pier, and the lions were placed closer to the Admiralty. The pedestals cast at the same factory became the support for the "keepers". Having comfortably settled down on a cast-iron “rug”, the lions not only faithfully carried out their service all this time, but also became the brightest decoration of the granite descent to the Neva.
They haven't tried to jump from their place for so many years... well, except to take a secret walk through the city at night, when there is not a single outside observer around.
There would be no restorations, but the tourists helped
Excellent quality factory work justified itself and did not need constant repairs. Lions steadfastly survived the Great Patriotic War and required restoration only twice - in the post-war years and in 1991. But the third restoration was forced and extremely necessary.
Then, strong steel frames had to be “implanted” into the hollow bodies of the lions. There would be no need for them if numerous tourists, constantly climbing on the back of one of the lions, did not break through his body.
In addition to the ardent love of tourists, the regal statues on the Admiralteyskaya embankment have earned laudatory masterpieces in word and brush. Famous artists of the 19th century Vasily Sadovnikov and Alexander Beggrov depicted guard lions on their canvases. Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva and Sergei Khadzhibaronov, already creating in the 20th century, also devoted their works to popular sculptures.
Author on stage! Yes real!
The very history of the appearance of these beauties is securely hidden under a veil of secrets and mysteries, which is so interesting to open at least a little...
Initially, the descent to the Neva was planned to be decorated with female figures accompanied by a "lion" escort. But the idea was swept away, leaving only animals, and, moreover, with an indispensable condition: they must be watchdogs without fail! After all, the shipbuilding center of the Northern capital should be protected day and night! So the guard lions found themselves in the project of the architect Carl Rossi, and after the birth they began to carry out an important service.
It is with the definition of the "paternity" of lions that the mystery of this story begins. Many guides assure tourists that the figures were allegedly cast according to the project of Ivan Prokofiev. But as it turns out, this is not entirely true: it is unlikely that the master at that time could personally take part in the design of the pier. Ivan Prokofiev died in the winter of 1828, and the question of the appearance of the lion "guard" arose only in the fall. Not to mention the fact that only 4 years later it was decided to cast the figures. There is also an answer to the assumption that the sculptor could have conceived graceful cats even earlier. For health reasons (complete paralysis of the right side), the master has not been engaged in creativity for the last 6 years. Like it or not, it turns out that the attribution of authorship is erroneous. Ivan Prokofiev, indeed, owns a great many beautiful sculptures and bas-reliefs, but, alas, they have nothing to do with the Admiralty Lions.
Be that as it may, majestic animal sculptures still occupy their special place under the sky of St. Petersburg. Well viewed from many points of the Admiralteyskaya embankment, the clear profiles of the lions are displayed against the background of the smooth surface of the Neva, at the same time decorating the vault of heaven with proud outlines ...
Collecting material about marble lions from all over the world, it is worth paying tribute to the city where lions, griffins and sphinxes, despite the harsh climate, feel great decorating gardens, parks, squares, embankments and house facades. We are talking about the stone guards of St. Petersburg. The article contains the most significant and favorite sculptural images of the king of beasts. Each lion is given a brief description, a photo and a link on the map. And although the material, first of all, will be of interest to the guests of the city, who make up routes for excursions or walks around St. Petersburg, we hope that St. Petersburg residents will be able to discover something new for themselves.
Lions on the Palace Pier Admiralteyskaya Embankment.
The guard lions installed on the Palace Pier of the Admiralteyskaya Embankment are perhaps the most popular representatives of the lion community in St. Petersburg. However, few people know that this famous couple, who ascended their pedestals in 1832, are the twins of the formidable guards of the Military Ministry, the Lion Cascade of Peterhof, the Elagin and Mikhailovsky palaces that were born earlier. And their very presence at the Palace Pier was decided by chance. Contrary to the well-established tradition of the architect K. Rossi to use copies of the famous Florentine lions embodied in cast iron, he was categorically against installing them on the pier, citing their small size and unpresentability for such a project. But the financial report of the director of the iron foundry on the cost of manufacturing statues according to the forms already available at the plant pulled the scales to his side. And by the order of the Sovereign Emperor Nicholas I, another pair of twin lions, cast by blowing and embossing from sheet copper, mounted on cast-iron pedestals with volutes, designed by architect L. Charlemagne, became the decoration of the Admiralteyskaya Embankment.
Cast iron lions of the Lion's Bridge on the Griboyedov Canal.
A lot of time has passed since the opening of the Lion's Bridge in 1825, however, massive two-meter sculptures of cast-iron lions guarding this amazing pedestrian crossing invariably delight both guests of the city and the indigenous inhabitants of the northern capital. Impressive statues contrast sharply with the weightless fence, the openwork of which further emphasizes the strength and power of the sculptures that hide the supports of a unique architectural structure - a joint creation of engineer G. Tretter and sculptor P. Sokolov. Like many other cast iron representatives of the lion clan of St. Petersburg, the giants were cast at the St. Petersburg State Foundry. Sitting in pairs on granite pedestals with their muzzles to each other, the guard lions of the Lion's Bridge hold hanging steel ropes in their mouths, and only paws dug into the pedestal and a tail lashed over a tense back make passers-by understand how hard it is to bear this burden.
Address: St. Petersburg. Crossing of the embankment of the Griboedov Canal with L'viny Lane.
A pair of lions at the Russian Museum.
A pair of formidable guards, towering on pedestals at the entrance to the building of the State Russian Museum, also known as the Mikhailovsky Palace, are twin brothers of the sculptures installed on the stairs leading to the park of the Elagin Palace. Mighty guard lions cast from cast iron stand in a pose already familiar to guests and residents of the city on the Neva, pressing balls that strive to slip out of their tenacious paws into unyielding granite. Such a coincidence is not accidental, since the same architect worked on Elagin and on the Mikhailovsky Palace - C. Rossi, who was distinguished by amazing constancy in installing lion pairs at the main entrances of his buildings and structures, including copies of the famous Florentine lions of Piazza della square signoria. Cast iron guards became a kind of guard of the family of His Imperial Majesty, because the Mikhailovsky Palace was built for the brother of the Emperor Alexander I - Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich. The Mikhailovsky "twins" are somewhat younger than their Elagin counterparts and date back to 1824.
Address: St. Petersburg. Engineering street, 4
The famous "House with Lions" (the house of Lobanov-Rostovsky).
Erected at the expense of the retired colonel Prince A. Lobanov-Rostovsky, a luxurious majestic mansion, later transferred to the Military Ministry, required no less majestic and courageous guards. The powerful marble lions of the house on Admiralteisky Prospekt with the rings of a recalcitrant mane scattered over the muscular back, sung by A. Pushkin in the poem "The Bronze Horseman", are to this day one of the most formidable guards of St. Petersburg. The support in the form of a ball gives the predatory paws a soft graceful bend, but the impression is deceptive - the elastic fives embracing the ball demonstrates extended claws, and the formidable expression of the muzzle leaves no room for jokes - the lions are the most watchdogs. Despite the change in the overall composition and some details of the guards of the Ministry, in their silhouette one can easily guess the lions from Piazza della signoria in Florence, which inspired many artists to create their own creations. Nevertheless, the ministerial sculptures are signed and clearly name the admiring descendants the name of their creator - "Triscorni F. In Garrara, 1810", silent, however, who could afford to buy a statue of a lion made by marble craftsmen of the Triscorni family.
Address: St. Petersburg. Admiralteisky prospect, 12
Lions with balls from the stairs of Elagin Palace.
Lush-maned handsome men, whose recalcitrant curls could be envied by the most famous charmers of the imperial court, became the first guard lions cast in iron in St. Petersburg. And this formidable couple saw more charmers than many, because they had a chance to protect, no less, no less, the palace ordered by His Imperial Majesty Alexander I for his beloved mother. Responsibility for the construction of the palace complex was entrusted to the promising young architect K. Rossi. And he, without further ado, decided that if both ordinary Petersburgers and royalty were so fond of the forms of the famous lion tandem from the main square of Florence, Piazza della signoria, then why not put copies of them on Elagin Island. No sooner said than done. The molds for the cast-iron sculptures were made from the gilded bronze lions of the Peterhof Lion Cascade, which duplicated the popular Florentines, and by the middle of the summer of 1822, the crowned guards had taken their place on the wide granite abutments of the wide stone staircase leading from the palace to the park. Despite the merciless time, their powerful paws, resting on the balls recessed into the pedestal, are still ready to jump, as before, and their mouths open in a menacing roar and nostrils flaring with rage strongly recommend visitors to behave decently. An architectural monument, after all.
Address: Yelagin Island. To the right from the 1st Yelagin bridge
29 cast-iron lions on the Sverdlovskaya embankment.
Perhaps the most numerous lion family in St. Petersburg, living "on the same territory." The name of the creator of these good-natured squat creatures, installed on the Sverdlovsk embankment, is covered in darkness, as is the place where the cast-iron twins were cast. Only the approximate time of their appearance is known, dating back to the end of the 1790s, when a section of the pier was ennobled opposite the estate of A. Bezborodko, rebuilt under the guidance of the architect J. Quarenghi. Petersburg has never seen such benevolent lions. Holding a sagging cast-iron chain in their teeth, the watchmen hospitably part three times, forming passages deep into the estate. And at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries there was no one to part, because the garden of the estate of A. Bezbrodko was known as one of the favorite places for rest of St. Petersburg residents. Sverdlovskaya embankment to this day invariably attracts those who wish to admire the cast-iron inhabitants of the Neva, who persistently keep the secret of the name of their creator and the number 29 chosen by him.
Address: St. Petersburg. Sverdlovskaya embankment, 40
Chinese lions "Shi-Tsza" on Petrovskaya embankment.
A lot of mythical creatures are shown to the guests and residents of the city of Northern Palmyra, but one of the most popular outlandish creatures is, of course, the Shih Tza lions. Admiring the beauties of the city on the Neva, the inquisitive Chinese relatives of the numerous lion family of St. Petersburg open their huge mouths with many small teeth in surprise, rolling their goggle-eyed eyes and sticking out their powerful broad chest. The colossal sculptures are a gift to the city from General N. Grodekov, who sponsored the "journey" of a Manchu couple far beyond their historical homeland, which required significant financial investments. It took three years for 4.5-meter giants, each of which weighed up to 2.5 tons, to overcome the path from distant Girin to Vladivostok, and then along the waves of the deep sea to get to St. Petersburg. Rumor has it that seasickness tormented the lions on such a long journey, and the architect L. Benois had to persuade the royal animals for a long time to settle near the water. The persuasion was crowned with success, and in 1907 the Shih Tza were installed on the granite banks of the reconstructed Petrovskaya embankment.
Address: St. Petersburg. Petrovskaya embankment, 6
Charming granite lions at Laval's house.
Few of the guard lions manage to be sung by an artistic word, however, the granite sculptures near the Laval house were lucky not only to be mentioned in N. Nekrasov's poem "Russian Women", but also to observe with their own eyes the brightest heads of their time - from N. Karamzin to A. Pushkin. History is silent about the exact time of the appearance of the guards of the mansion, famous for its richest collection of art objects, referring them at length to the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th century. Behind the veil of secrecy remains the name of the creator of pensive lions, nicknamed by philosophers for the thoughtful expression of muzzles facing each other in a high society conversation, covered with Egyptian scarves falling on their shoulders. The architects J. Thomas de Thomon and A. Voronikhin worked tirelessly on the reconstruction of the Laval house, built back in 1730, often decorating their handiwork with sculptures of guard lions. However, no documents confirming the installation of the “philosophers” by them were found. That, however, does not prevent the statues near the Laval house, leaning their muzzles on relaxed paws, while away the time with a casual conversation about the hardships of granite life.
Address: St. Petersburg. English embankment, 4
A pair of lions guarding the Pavlovsk Palace.
The sculptures of lions of the palace and park ensemble in Pavlovsk differ in many respects from their counterparts living on the territory of Northern Palmyra. Contrary to the well-established tradition of placing guard lions at the main entrance to the palace or estate, this pair is hidden from prying eyes and keeps watch at the outbuildings framing the main facade of the palace. Yes, and to call these representatives of the animal kingdom sentry can only be a stretch. The thoughtfully sad expression of their muzzles and the general composition make them look like the lion-philosophers installed at the Laval house, and the detached lions at the “Voronikha” colonnades in Petrodvorets. Since the architect A. Voronikhin, who was noted for his invariable love for paired lion sculptures, participated in the work on all three objects, such a coincidence can hardly be called accidental. However, there is no documented information about the origin of the guards of the Pavlovsk Palace, and the sculptures themselves are not verbose.
Pair of lions from the Great Stone Staircase in Pavlovsk Park.
The habitat of these playful creatures is the palace and park ensemble in Pavlovsk, which was alternately built by several outstanding architects of the era: C. Cameron, C. Rossi, A. Voronikhin, J. Quarenghi and V. Brenna. However, amazing marble lions owe their appearance to the latter. V. Brenna recreated in the Russian park views of terraces dear to his heart with balustrades and statues, reminiscent of his native Italy. The staircase, called "Italian", consists of several marches separated by intermediate platforms, and along the edges it is limited by granite ledges, on which small marble lions frolic, the good-natured mood of which is fundamentally different from most representatives of the lion family of St. Petersburg and its environs. Turning their sly muzzles to each other, the animals seem to agree on how they can outplay that small cast-iron couple that perched at the bottom of the stairs and strives to show who is in charge in the lion pride of Pavlovsk Park. Since the end of the 18th century, the playfulness of the statues has not diminished, and they continue to delight numerous visitors to the palace and park complex.
Address: St. Petersburg, Pavlovsk, Sadovaya street, 20
Statues of griffins on the Bank Bridge
The sculptures of the Bank Bridge are by no means the only, but the most popular and, perhaps, the most beautiful representatives of the griffins that settled in St. Petersburg. The joint project of the engineer G. Tretter and the sculptor P. Sokolov still does not leave anyone indifferent, and even during its opening in 1825, the bridge made a splash. The choice of these mythical creatures - constant companions and custodians of untold riches - is by no means accidental, because at the time of the design and implementation of the sculptor's and architect's plan, there was a flourishing Assignation Bank not far from the bridge. The proximity of serious finances required no less serious guards. Like the lions of the Lion's Bridge on the Griboyedov Canal, the griffins hold a powerful steel cable in their mouths, and their lean cast-iron body hides the bridge's supports. The beauty of skillfully chiseled eagle wings pressed against a tense torso invariably attracts curious passers-by, some of whom, in the hope of gaining long-awaited wealth, leave a symbolic coin at the paws of griffins. Rumor has it that griffins not only bring wealth, but also fulfill cherished desires. Money in this case is useless - animals must be sincerely asked and affectionately stroked. An affectionate word - after all, it is pleasant even for a cast-iron giant.
Granite sphinxes at the Academy of Arts
Without the slightest bit of exaggeration, these are the most ancient sculptures of the northern capital. Arriving on the banks of the Neva in 1832, Egyptian guests previously guarded the temple of Amun-Ra and the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, and this, no less, is the 15th century BC. Buried under the sands of the desert, Ancient Thebes, and with them the sphinxes of red granite with the face of the deceased pharaoh, were raised into the light of God by French archaeologists led by Monsieur J.-B. Champollion. By chance, one of the sphinxes caught the eye of the Russian traveler and chamberlain of His Imperial Majesty - A. Muravyov, who sent Nicholas I a request to purchase this miracle of Ancient Egypt, estimated at a fabulous sum of 100 thousand francs. The Russian postal service worked intermittently even then ... Delay in the answer threatened to send rare sculptures to Paris, but in connection with the outbreak of the bourgeois revolution, the French government lost interest in buying up historical values. And to the considerable delight of the Petersburgers, the sphinxes eventually went to Petersburg.
Address: St. Petersburg. Universitetskaya embankment, 17
Sphinxes of the Egyptian bridge
The Egyptian bridge was the third joint creation of the engineer G. Tretter and the sculptor P. Sokolov, but unlike the previous two - Lvino and Bankovsky - it was made passable. Opened in 1826, the bridge presented to the eyes of the astonished public a new trend for those times - the figures of the sphinxes of Ancient Egypt, the interest in the art of which increased significantly after the military campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte. The novelty consisted in the installation of sculptures, not imported, but created through the efforts of local craftsmen. Known for his love of ancient art, the sculptor P. Sokolov did not change his passions, and depicted sphinxes in the traditions of Ancient Greece rather than Egypt - with a female body smoothly turning into powerful lean paws of a predatory beast reclining on a wide pedestal. Paying tribute to the Egyptian beginning, P. Sokolov adorned the heads of the coldly beautiful sphinxes with the traditional headdress of the Egyptian pharaohs, the descending ends of which barely covered the naked female breast. Unlike many sculptures in St. Petersburg, these statues were made at the metal factory of engineer C. Byrd, who asked for the lowest price for their manufacture. Money loves an account. And in the days of Tsarist Russia, it was not customary to joke with the budget.
Address: St. Petersburg. Fontanka embankment, 136
Sphinx statues on the Malaya Nevka embankment
Deja vu. It is this word that every Petersburger who is fascinated by the history of his native city will pronounce. And every curious tourist. And both will be right. The statues are exact copies of the sphinxes of the Egyptian bridge - from the general appearance to the design features, dimensions and source material. Their appearance in their current habitat is a very complicated story. After the restoration, the Egyptian beauties moved to the descent to the Malaya Nevka embankment only in 1971, “traveling” to their final destination along the route - the warehouses of the Ch. Byrd factory, the warehouses of the merchant Galaktionov, the house of the merchant Galaktionov on Vereiskaya Street, and then the new house of the merchant on Mozhayskaya street. For what reason they were not sent for remelting and were stored in factory warehouses for more than half a century, recognized as unsuitable sphinxes intended for decorating the Egyptian bridge - a mystery with seven seals. As well as what prompted citizen Galaktionov to make such an acquisition. But it is precisely his whims that Petersburgers owe to the appearance on the banks of the Neva of another pair of beautiful mythical creatures. And beauty, as you know, does not happen much.
Address: St. Petersburg. Embankment of Malaya Nevka, 11
Sphinxes on the Sverdlovsk embankment
Equipped in the late 1790s, the pier on Sverdlovskaya Embankment became a haven for two pairs of Egyptian gray granite sphinxes, which had a soft female appearance with a traditionally shawl-covered head. The wonderful quartet had to get along with famous neighbors - 29 cast-iron lions of the lion fence of A. Bezborodko's dacha. It should be noted that the neighbors were very peaceful and led a completely peaceful coexistence. However, in the middle of the 19th century, the granite statues disappeared without a trace, leaving the Petersburgers not the slightest hint of either the reasons for the "escape" or their new habitat. Historical justice was restored in the middle of the last century during the reconstruction of the embankment. Armed with a watercolor by the artist G. Sergeev, depicting the Bezborodko dacha, and taking the sphinxes of the Stroganov Palace on Nevsky Prospekt as a basis, stone-cutters A. Osipov and L. Komarov breathed life back into the soulless blocks of gray granite, and the long-suffering Egyptian sphinxes of the Sverdlovsk embankment, returning to their pedestals found the long-awaited peace.
Address: St. Petersburg. Sverdlovskaya embankment, 40
Two-faced sphinxes from the Robespierre embankment
Unlike most of the famous lions of northern Palmyra, the two-faced sphinxes from the Robespierre embankment are one of the youngest representatives of the large lion family of St. Petersburg, which appeared on the banks of the Neva in 1995. However, despite their young age, bronze statues bear on their shoulders the terrible burden of a changeable fate. The creation of the sculptor M. Shemyakin serves as an ominous reminder of the shameful pages of the not so distant history of a great country - political repressions, the symbol of which in that difficult period was the Kresty prison. The bifurcated faces of sphinxes reclining on a pedestal of pink granite symbolize the coexistence of two worlds - freedom and a casemate. A spiritualized female face peacefully looks at the world of people, but the gaping eye sockets of a bare skull are turned to the windows of the "Crosses". On the tablets, encircling the statues, emaciated with painfully protruding ribs, are engraved quotes from famous people of this world, who saw with their own eyes the bestial grin of political repression.
Address: St. Petersburg. Robespierre embankment, 12
Sphinxes in the courtyard of the Mining Institute
Sphinxes in the courtyard of the Mining Institute follow the ancient tradition of depicting these mythical creatures and appear as charming young maidens with high breasts and luxurious locks of thick hair, whose exquisite outfit and slender silhouette turn into the body of a ferocious predator leaning on powerful paws. Shrouded in a veil of mystery, the raven-colored statues lurk at the end of the alley in the depths of the ancient garden. As true women, keeping the names close to their hearts “behind seven seals”, the sphinxes of the Mining Institute never told the world the name of their creator, in which they predicted the sculptors V. Demut-Malinovsky and S. Pimenov, who took part in the project of the architect A. Voronikhin, responsible for the erection of this monumental building at the beginning of the 19th century. Rumor has it that cast-iron beauties can partly be the legacy of A. Voronikhin, known for his love of ancient art and considerable artistic talent. However, whoever was the "culprit" of the appearance of sculptures near the walls of the temple of science, the descendants will look at the creation of his hands with unchanging gratitude.
Address: St. Petersburg. Embankment Lieutenant Schmidt, 45
The lion family of the city on the Neva is so large that it is hardly possible to pay attention to all its worthy representatives at the first attempt. But the history of St. Petersburg is an inexhaustible storehouse of mysterious stories and legends associated with the emergence of large and small, well-known and undeservedly forgotten guards of the northern capital, on which we will continue to collect dossiers with tireless interest. In the meantime, we console ourselves with the hope that an inquisitive reader, inspired by the stories presented, will go for a walk to personally get to know our heroes. And if the impression of the crowned inhabitants of the Neva is so great that, at the behest of the heart, you want to invite them to your own home, we will modestly remind you that in the ArtMart stone-cutting workshop it is possible not only to buy the lions living there, but also to make an individual order for your favorite sculptures.
The statues of lions were installed on the Palace Pier as a decoration in 1832.
Now the pier with lions is located on the Admiralteyskaya Embankment near the eastern pavilion of the Admiralty (next to the Palace Bridge). According to local historians and bloggers, these lions are the most famous lions of St. Petersburg.
After the last reconstruction, the pier with lions, located next to the Palace Bridge, forms a single architectural ensemble with its southern descent. The figures of lions are made by chasing from sheet copper, they were made in 1832 at the Alexander iron foundry in St. Petersburg. They were made by the master I. Prang according to the model of the sculptor I. P. Prokofiev. Cast-iron pedestals with volutes were cast for lions at the same factory according to the drawing of the architect L. Charlemagne.
The Palace Pier is a wide granite stairway down to the Bolshaya Neva. At the top of the stairs, rising above the level of the shore, there are granite pedestals of lions. The monotony of the vertical parallelepiped of the pedestal is divided by narrow ledges. The stair descent from the sides is limited by the parapet of the embankments, which smoothly turns into a pedestal.
The lions stand on cast-iron pedestals, their heavy, lobed heads turned towards each other. Terrible muzzles of animals are original and expressive - lions are depicted with a half-open bared mouth and terrible fangs. The strength and dexterity of a predator are indicated by a wide chest, powerful paws and a slender muscular body with a taut stomach. Lions lean on the ball with their front paws with extended curved claws.
The idea of installing lions on the Palace Pier appeared in the first draft of Luigi Rusca (1717) and ran like a red thread through all design options. In the autumn of 1828, an attempt was made to clarify the issue of decorative lion statues for the wharf. All historical documents indicate that the installation of an exact copy of the Florentine lions was considered.
Saint Petersburg
All paths lead ... to the Palace Pier! Yes, yes, how else? After all, it is here that one of the most famous and mysterious lion pairs of northern Palmyra is located, which enjoys the invariable popularity of the city's guests on the Neva and the well-deserved love of native Petersburgers. Unlike many representatives of the lion family of the city of Peter the Great, these guard lions were destined to go down in history and be immortalized not only in words, but also with a brush. It was their royal statues that the famous artists of the 19th century V. Sadovnikov and A. Beggrov captured on their canvases “Palace Pier” and “View of the Neva from the Winter Palace”. The twentieth century was no exception, which opened the world to A. Ostroumova-Lebedeva, whose illustrations for A. Pushkin's poem "The Bronze Horseman" still excite the minds of readers, and S. Khadzhibaronov, whose "Lion at the Palace Bridge" became another evidence of considerable popularity of crowned copper sculptures.
Ludovic Franz Karl - Neva embankment at the western facade of the Winter Palace
The history of their appearance is full of mysterious coincidences and such ups and downs of events that it was just right to investigate them by the Secret Police of His Imperial Majesty. Without claiming to be the daily bread of the main detectives of the empire, we nevertheless take the liberty of opening the veil of secrecy and telling the reader some of the features of the construction of the Palace Pier and its famous lions.
When designing a pier-staircase between the Admiralty building and the Winter Palace, the court architect L. Ruska planned to decorate the descent to the Neva with graceful female figures accompanied by lying lions. However, the project was not approved by the “tops”. Pardon me, Mr. Ruska, but no women! And if there are lions, then lions are watchdogs, and not peacefully snoring to the sound of waves crashing against a granite stronghold. Indeed, after the destruction of the fortifications around the Admiralty, the shipbuilding center of St. Petersburg, and even located not far from the royal residence, must be protected like the apple of an eye!
Guard lions appeared in the project of the decorative solution for the Palace Pier, owned by the architect K. Rossi, a landmark for the history of St. Petersburg, who proposed using several sculptural groups in the design: horses with watermen for the upper ledges of the descent and lions leaning on a ball (a familiar silhouette, isn’t it? ), for the lower ones. The project was approved, but ... The model "Horse with a Waterman" created by V. Demuth-Malinovsky was far from being so successful. Instead, a proposal was made to install equestrian groups on the pier, similar to the works of the French sculptor G. Kustu that adorned the Champs Elysees. A corresponding request was sent to Paris and even a response was received, but a preliminary calculation of the cost of casting these gigantic statues nullified all the efforts of the architect. 32 thousand rubles per group - this is the figure that put an end to the brilliant idea of decorating the pier near the Admiralty.
What to do? How to be? After a cross-correspondence between the architect K. Rossi, responsible for the construction and decoration of the Palace Pier, the director of the Alexander Iron Foundry M. Clark, responsible for casting formidable guard lions, and the Minister of the Imperial Court, His Serene Highness Prince P. Volkonsky, responsible for everyone and everything, a decision was made to make lions by blowing or chasing from sheet copper. Only three months later, the guard lions of the Palace Pier began to serve, pacing on cast-iron pedestals with volutes, cast according to the design of the architect I. Charlemagne. The authorship of the copper guards belongs to ... And, in fact, to whom? It is from this question that the tangled story of the famous lion couple begins, the traces of which lead to Peterhof.
Many guides, guiding gullible tourists along the granite banks of the Neva and demonstrating powerful figures rearing up on pedestals with clawed paws dug into a massive ball, confidently name the sculptor I. Prokofiev as the author of magnificent lush-maned royal animals. But is it really so?
With all due respect to Ivan Prokofievich, we will have to object to the master's personal participation in the design of the Palace Pier. For one of the most famous artists of Russia of the 19th century passed away already in February 1828, and the question of the appearance of lions became on the agenda only in autumn. And there is no need to talk about the fact that the final decision on their casting was made only 4 years later - in 1832. An inquisitive reader may assume that the lions were conceived by the sculptor a little earlier. But the last creation of Professor I. Prokofiev dates back to 1822, after which he did not work due to the paralysis of the right side of the body that befell him due to a severe apoplexy.
So where did the assertion about the authorship of the amazing lions of the Palace Pier come from? In the stories of the guides, the name of the sculptor I. Prokofiev, the similarity of the lions of the Palace Pier with the lions of the Florentine Piazzadellasignoria square and the statement that the watch pair was cast according to the models already available at the Alexander iron foundry are surprisingly intertwined. At the same time, few people think that the stated facts somewhat contradict each other.
To clarify, we will have to return the reader to the correspondence between the architect K. Rossi, the director of the iron foundry M. Clark and Prince P. Volkonsky. One head it's good, but two better. So, apparently, K. Rossi and P. Volkonsky thought, having decided to put a guard pair on the pier, the prototype of which was the lions of the Triscorni family living in St. Petersburg near the Military Ministry, reminiscent of those very notorious Florentines from Piazzadellasignoria.
But M. Clark debunked the “Napoleonic plans”, notifying that due to the change in the size of the lions, it is necessary to make new plaster models for them, which will lead to a significant increase in the cost of the project. At the same time, the factory has models of such lions, but somewhat smaller. So maybe the ministry will make a decision in favor of the existing ones? And the ministry accepted, despite all the objections of K. Rossi, who claimed that the dimensions were not impressive. The objections were not heeded, since the lions of the Elagin Palace, the Russian Museum, the palace in Strelna and the Arakcheevsky estate in the village of Gruzino were previously cast in the same forms, and neither the crowned family nor his entourage showed dissatisfaction with the size of the guards until now. 
But what does I. Prokofiev have to do with it, if all these lions are copies of a pair installed in one of the most beautiful squares in Florence?! Surely our dear reader will ask. The fact is that all representatives of the “Lion Guard” of His Imperial Majesty, starting from the lions of the Elagin Palace and ending with the lions of the Palace Pier, are cast in the forms of gilded bronze lions of the Peterhof Lion Cascade, the authorship of which was attributed by some sources to Professor I. Prokofiev.
It is very interesting that, at the same time, all the same sources in the materials on the construction and decoration of the Mikhailovsky and Elagin palaces successfully forget about the name of the sculptor and state the fact of copying the Florentine lions. Presumably, the conclusion about the authorship of the professor of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts was made on the basis of a report on the work carried out for Peterhof in the journal of the Academy, which mentioned the delivery of lion molds and triton molds by I. Prokofiev from the foundry.
However, in our opinion, Ivan Prokofievich "fell a victim" of documentary confusion. Already in the next report of the Academy, it is clearly indicated that the professor worked only on newts, while in relation to lions, instead of the author, only the total number of plaster molds is indicated - 15 boxes. By an amazing coincidence, shortly before these events, exactly 15 boxes of plaster molds of Florentine lions from Piazzadellasignoria arrived at the Academy of Fine Arts. Together with the forms of the statues of Hercules and Flora, which also went to the Lions Cascade. Are such coincidences accidental?.. Moreover, even the biographers of I. Prokofiev do not include the lions of the Lion Cascade in the creative heritage of the sculptor (and, to put it mildly, there is something to be proud of!). 
Summing up our, we hope, not too tedious investigation, it remains only to conclude that I. Prokofiev owns countless bas-reliefs and sculptures of unsurpassed beauty, but this remarkable master hardly put his hand to the lions of the Palace Pier.
If, after reading this short excursion into the history of the guard lions of St. Petersburg, a respected reader would like to have the same formidable couple in his house, the ArtMart stone-cutting workshop will help bring this desire to life. And introducing the new inhabitants of the house to the amazed guests, it will be possible to say: “This is such a complicated story ...”.
