2009: The transfer of the Alexander Column Monument to the Operational Management of the State Hermitage Museum

14 October 2009, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation issued an order establishing the transfer of operational management rights for the Alexander Column which is federal property to the State Hermitage Museum.

This order was issued in accordance with law No. 54-FZ On the Museum Fund of the Russian Federation and the Museums of the Russian Federation dated 16.05.1996 and the Statue on the Museum Fund of the Russian Federation, established by decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, dated 12.02.1998.

The Alexander Column was erected in 1834 by order of the Emperor Nicholas I in honour of the victory of the Russian army over Napoleon under the leadership of Alexander I. The author of the project was Auguste Montferrand. The height of the column is 47.5 meters. It was from an entire granite monolith and is held in place by its own weight. The body of the column has a conical shape is was placed on a massive pedestal, decorated with bronze bas-reliefs, which celebrate the victory or Russian arms in allegorical form and symbolize the valour of the Russian Army. The monument is crowned with an angel, the work of Boris Orlovsky.

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The Alexander Column
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