Portrait of Peter I, Model for the Monument «The Bronze Horseman» by Étienne-Maurice Falconet, 1767. Artist: Marie-Anne Collot. Material: Plaster. Dimensions: 93×57×60 cm. Tactile model: Plastic, Metallisation, Bronze.
The emperor is depicted in mature age. His proudly raised head is framed by thick, wavy locks, crowned with a laurel wreath—a symbol of glory, victory, and peace. A high forehead is marked by deep wrinkles. Thick eyebrows are arched sharply at the centre. Heavy upper eyelids overhang large eyes. His gaze is directed to the right, slightly downward. Pupils are rendered as heart-shaped perforations. The nose is straight, with a pronounced bridge. Neat moustaches sit above a small mouth. A strong, determined chin completes the image of an enlightened monarch, embodying indomitable will and energy.
Original Bust Title: Plaster Sketch for the Monument to Peter I «The Bronze Horseman».
The monument became an iconic, myth-forming symbol of St. Petersburg from the moment of its installation on Senate Square in 1782. The great sculptor Étienne-Maurice Falconet spent years crafting the rider’s head. He prepared three versions, all rejected by Empress Catherine II for lacking sufficient resemblance to Peter I.
In despair, Falconet handed the task to his pupil, Marie-Anne Collot. Legend holds that she sculpted the head for The Bronze Horseman in a single night. The result delighted Catherine, who immediately granted her royal approval. Collot was awarded a lifetime pension. Falconet also publicly acknowledged his pupil’s contribution, emphasising her equal role in the creation of the monument.
By Pavel Gostev