Exhibition “St. Petersburg’s white nights” presents sculptures and graphics from the storage of the State Museum of Urban Sculpture. The sculpture storage of the museum possesses two unique one-of-a-kind collections - models of urban monuments and competition projects mostly unimplemented yet considered to be of great for historic and artistic value.
The exposition displays models of monuments and unimplemented competition entries distinguished by deep and flamboyant images, unique in composition, stylistic variety, creativity and individuality. Among them are projects of monuments to Mikhail Lomonosov (V. Rybalko, 1982), Alexander Nevsky (I. Korneev, 1987), Peter Tchaikovsky (V. Troyanovsky, 1988), Fyodor Dostoevsky (L. Lazarev, 1989), Anna Akhmatova (I. Yaroshevish, 1998), Fyodor Chaliapin (E. Rotanov, 2001), Joseph Brodsky (L. Smorgon, 2003).
Portraits chosen for the exhibition are not accidental. The portrait of Dmitry Shostakovich (A. Chernitsky, 1947) was inspired by personal impressions from meetings with the brilliant composer. The city history has been embodied in sharp and idiosyncratic works of two artists – L. Lants Dedication to the Siege Child (1990-1991) and K. Simun, who designed his version of Bronze Horseman (Peter I. In honor to rename Leningrad to Saint Petersburg) (2011).
For decades, the museum has obtained a great collection of graphic works. The exceptional completeness and originality of this collection is mainly connected with the depiction of St. Petersburg architectural ensembles and monuments.
The exhibition displays rare and highly artistic 19th century graphic works depicting brilliant appearance of the Northern capital – The Stock Exchange (S. Galaktionov, 1821) with rostral columns on the Arrow of Vasilievsky Island, View to the Neva River, the Hermitage and the Admiralty (A. Durand, 1842), Monument to Peter on the Senate Square (L. Jacotte, 1850s).
Poetic and harmony-filled lithographs By the Rostral Column (A. Vedernikov, 1969) and Lomonosov Square (A. Vasiliev), linocut prints Monument to Mikhail Kutuzov (S. Vikharev, 1962) and Monument to Alexander Pushkin at the Russian Museum (B. Rakitsky 1982) are on exhibit.