I continue to speak for Odessa. This time I decided to pay attention to the monument to Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin on Primorsky Boulevard in Odessa. You will learn some interesting facts.
Monument to Pushkin in Odessa
As everyone knows, Pushkin stayed in Odessa for only 13 months. During this time, he managed to spend a lot of state money and seduce Countess Vorontsova. In Odessa, wonderful lines of poetry were born, which were included in his great "Eugene Onegin". But we'll talk about creativity later, maybe tomorrow, or maybe someday.
Who gave the idea to erect a monument to the poet in Odessa?
In May, the glorious month of 1880, Marazli decided that there should be a monument to Pushkin. Marazli decided, and the board of the Slavic society decided. Urgently appeal to the authorities with a petition to install a bust of Pushkin in Odessa.
No sooner said than done. The authorities gave their "go-ahead". We began to select a place. At first it was decided that the monument would fit perfectly into the overall picture of Theater Square. But at that time a new Opera House was being built. There was no place for the monument. Then, it was decided to install this bust at the very beginning of Nikolaevsky Boulevard (in our time it is Primorsky Boulevard).
While they were deciding whether to put it or not, where it was, the money in the city treasury ran out. Marazli addressed the townspeople. Ultimately, the construction of the monument began with funds raised "by private subscription."
Everyone helped. Who could do anything. They gave not only rubles, but also materials. Whoever could donate sand, he took it to the construction site. In general, everyone donated: from foundation slabs to plumbing systems. Yes, the asphalt and plumbing works were carried out completely free of charge. Cast iron bowls were cast in the workshops of the Trud society. They did not take money for them. When the construction was at the finish line, the city authorities nevertheless took mercy and allocated the missing amount of money.
As indicated on the plaque, the monument was erected in 1888. But the grand opening took place on April 16, 1889. Almost the entire city gathered for this solemn event.
Please note that the inscription on the monument clearly shows who gave the money for the construction. "A.S. Pushkin. Citizens of Odessa. "
The authors of the monument and what it is
Monument architect: Kh.K. Vasiliev. The bust was designed by the sculptor Josephine Polonskaya. Yes, the wives of that same Yakov Polonsky. The dolphins and the bust itself were cast in bronze. They were made in St. Petersburg itself, at the Moran plant.
At the base we see an inverted five-pointed star. This symbol of Freemasonry is not present by chance. Tradition says that the lion's share of the money that was needed for the construction was given by the Freemasons. Do not forget that while still in Moldova, Pushkin became a member of the Chisinau Masonic lodge.
This turned out to be the very first monument to the great poet on the territory of modern Ukraine. In addition, it was only the second monument to Pushkin in the entire Russian Empire. In terms of portrait likeness, the Odessa monument is the best.
In the future, I plan to continue the conversation for Pushkin in Odessa.