Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius: description. Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius (170) Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius on horseback

On earth there are hundreds of thousands of equestrian monuments, sculptures and monuments dedicated to great people, historical events or simply installed for the sake of beauty. But among them there are the very best, and we will talk about them.

The most ancient equestrian monuments

The tradition of immortalizing heroes and events in equestrian monuments dates back to antiquity. The ancient Greeks (and especially the Romans) liked to erect a statue in memory of someone (something) in a prominent place. However, little has survived to this day, and what remains is included in the golden fund of world culture. What are the oldest equestrian monuments on the planet?

Quadriga of St. Mark

In Venice (Italy) there is St. Mark's Cathedral, built in the immemorial year 829 and now listed as a UNESCO heritage site. In the basilica of the cathedral (the colonnade decorating the main entrance) there is a sculptural group - four horses made of gilded bronze, the famous quadriga of St. Mark. They say that these four horses were made of bronze by the famous ancient sculptor Lysippos in the 4th century BC (that is, 2400 years ago). At first, horses decorated the hippodrome in Constantinople. However, during IV crusade The crusaders brought a lot of valuable things from Constantinople, including the quadriga. Since then (more than 800 years) the quadriga has decorated St. Mark's Cathedral. Bronze horses amazed medieval connoisseurs with their skill and grace of execution. In 1364, the great Italian poet Francesco Petrarca wrote about her: “... there are four gilded bronze horses, to which the ancient artist gave such a resemblance to the living that you seem to hear their stomping and neighing.”

They also amaze our contemporaries. Today it is the only surviving antique multi-figure equestrian sculpture in the world and one of the few equestrian sculptures that have survived from antiquity to the present day. In terms of age, the quadriga of St. Mark is the oldest equestrian monument on the planet.

Statue of Marcus Aurelius

In Rome, in the Capitoline Museum, there is an ancient Roman bronze statue depicting the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. This is the only equestrian statue depicting a rider on a horse that has survived from antiquity. The sculpture is twice life size. Its creation dates back to 160-180 BC, that is, about 2100-2200 years ago. This equestrian statue originally stood on the slope of the Capitoline Hill, opposite the Roman Forum. In the Middle Ages, when they were fighting against “paganism,” the sculpture survived miraculously, since Catholics were a little confused about who it was actually depicting. For a long time it was believed that the statue depicts another emperor - Constantine I the Great, a passionate Catholic. Only in the 12th century did the Vatican librarian Bartolomeo Platina compare ancient Roman coins and identify the bronze horseman. The sculpture itself (as we have already said) is kept in the museum, and its exact copy decorates the square in front of the Capitoline Palaces.

Bamberg Horseman

Bamberg cathedral, in the small Bavarian town of Bamberg, one of the unique monuments medieval architecture. The age of the cathedral is about 1000 years. Most famous masterpiece cathedral - a statue of a rider on a horse, made of sandstone. The Horseman was created around 1235 (that is, almost 800 years ago) by the German sculptor Veit Stoss, and today it is the oldest equestrian sculpture in Europe since antiquity. Initially, the rider was colored - the horse was gray and white, the harness was gilded, the clothes were painted in yellow tones with an admixture of gold leaf. About 200 years ago, by order of the Bavarian king Ludwig, all colored details were for some reason removed. Now the sculpture is monochromatic. Whom the horseman represents - historians have not yet come to a consensus.

Gattamelata statue

In 1453, the great Italian sculptor Donatello sculpted an equestrian statue of the Italian mercenary leader (condottiere) Erasmo de Narni, nicknamed Gattamelata (which translated means “flattering cat”), in bronze. Erasmo de Narni was not one of the brightest commanders, and the monument to Donatello was made only by order of Gattamelata’s widow and son after his death - a completely commercial work. Centuries have passed, people have largely forgotten about the condottiere, but his bronze image has been decorating the Italian city of Padua for almost 600 years and today is one of the oldest (and most famous) equestrian statues in Europe.

Monument to Peter I in front of the Engineering Castle

In Russia, the tradition of erecting monuments, including equestrian ones, does not have such deep roots. Actually, they originate from Peter I, or rather, from his image. “According to the custom of Roman emperors,” the sculptor Rastrelli created a monument to Peter I. Peter really looks like a Roman in this monument - riding a horse, wearing Roman clothes, with a wreath on his head and a corresponding facial expression. The model of the monument was made by Rastrelli during the life of Peter I, the monument itself was cast from bronze in 1745-1747 by another Italian master Martelli, after which, as often happens in Russia, Peter’s daughter Elizabeth did not like it and was stored in the warehouses of the Chancellery of Buildings for more than 50 years - they forgot about him. The monument was erected in front of the Engineering (Mikhailovsky) Castle only in 1800 at the behest of Paul I (with the inscription “To great-grandfather from great-grandson”). Although this monument was installed in a permanent place 18 years after the opening of the famous Bronze Horseman, that's exactly what sculptural image Peter I is the first equestrian monument in Russia.

The largest stone horses

How big of an equestrian monument can a person build? Read on to learn about the largest equestrian sculptures.

Equestrian statue of Genghis Khan

The record holder for the largest size in the world is the equestrian statue of Genghis Khan in the town of Tsonzhin-Boldoge, 54 km from the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. Genghis Khan is an extremely revered historical figure in Mongolia; many different monuments have been erected to him. But the creation of Mongolian masters - sculptor D. Erdenebileg and architect Zh. Enkhjargal - surpassed all previously built ones. The monument was erected recently, its opening took place in September 2008. The height of the statue is 40 meters plus a 10-meter pedestal. To make the sculpture, only 250 tons plus of stainless steel was needed huge amount other materials. The pedestal houses a conference room, a restaurant, an entertainment center and a souvenir shop. There is an observation deck on the horse's head. The equestrian statue of Genghis Khan in Tsonzhin-Boldog is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest equestrian sculpture in the world.

Monument to Three Generals in Atlanta

On a stone cliff in national park Stone Mountain, near Atlanta (Georgia, USA), erected a truly unique bas-relief monument to three generals, heroes Civil War North and South - statues of Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert Edward Lee and Thomas Jackson. Three military leaders who led the defeated Confederacy. Confederates are still revered in Atlanta, and the idea of creating a monument was born in the early 20th century. The project was ready in 1917, but work began much later. The sculptor Roy Faulkner managed to bring his plans to life, spending sculptural group 8 years and 174 days (from September 12, 1963 to March 3, 1972). The monument was carved into the rock of Stone Mountain and covers an area of half a hectare (5000 square meters). The sculptor begins at a height of 137 meters above the ground, the height of the riders is about 30 meters. There is a story that after construction was completed, a banquet was held on the shoulder of one of the horsemen. The composition is the largest stone sculpture in the world and is included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Monument to Salavat Yulaev

The largest equestrian statue in Russia is installed in Ufa. This is a monument to Salavat Yulaev, the national Bashkir hero. Salavat Yulaev became famous for joining Pugachev’s troops and thus fighting for freedom and independence. The monument was erected in 1967, when heroes who fought against the tsarist regime at any time were especially popular. The monument turned out to be very colorful. It was created by local sculptor Soslanbek Tavasiev; it took him 30 years to develop the project. His project was brought to life at one of the Leningrad factories. The monument is cast from bronzed cast iron, weighs more than 40 tons, its height is 9 meters (together with the pedestal - 22 meters).

Bronze sculpture of Jan Zizka

The bronze statue of Jan Zizka is the largest equestrian statue in Europe. Horseman Jan Žižka - as she is called in the Czech Republic - stands on Vitkov Hill in Prague. Jan Zizka - national hero Czech Republic, who in the Middle Ages fought for the freedom of the Czechs against the crusaders. And, apparently, he won. Now the equestrian figure of the one-eyed commander adorns the Czech capital. Jan Zizka, of course, is much smaller than Genghis Khan (it just so happened!), but his size is impressive - the height of the equestrian statue together with the pedestal is 22 meters, weight is 16.5 tons. Construction of the monument lasted for for many years. Czech sculptor Bohumil Kafka began work on the monument on the eve of World War II. It was possible to cast it in bronze only in 1946, and the grand opening took place four years later, in 1950. Sadly, the creator of the monument, Bohumil Kafka, did not live to see its opening.

The equestrian statue of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius was preserved only due to a mistake. This is the only equestrian bronze antique monument that has come down to us. Such statues in Ancient Rome there were many, but they were all melted down in the Middle Ages, with the exception of this one, which was considered an image of the Emperor Constantine the Great, revered by Christians:

The gilded bronze monument stood for a long time in front of the pope's residence, the Lateran Palace. In the 16th century, Michelangelo placed it in the center of the Capitoline Square:

In recent years, after restoration, Marcus Aurelius has been located under the roof of the new hall of the Capitoline Museums. There is now a copy on the square: http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/janet1981/view/66746/?page=4
It was made using latest technologies, but, nevertheless, the difference between the original and the copy is colossal. The ancient monument is alive:

An equestrian monument is a monument to a commander. The rider's gesture is addressed to the army. In his lifetime, Marcus Aurelius really had to fight a lot with the Parthians, barbarian tribes, but his descendants remember him not as a commander, but as a philosopher on the throne. The emperor managed to repel enemy attacks and pacify rebels, but he did not value military glory highly. Marcus Aurelius was one of the most educated people of his time. He devoted all his free time from government concerns to the study of philosophy. A book of his thoughts has reached us. In it we read: “Take care, don’t look upside down, don’t become saturated with purple—this happens. Take care of yourself as simple, worthy, unspoiled, strict, upright, a friend of justice, pious, benevolent, affable, strong for every appropriate task. Enter into the struggle to remain what the teaching you accepted wanted you to be. Honor the gods, save the people. Life is short; one fruit of earthly existence is a righteous mental disposition and deeds for the common benefit.”
Marcus Aurelius was born in 121. In 138 he was adopted by Antoninus Pius, from whom he inherited power in 161. Co-ruler of Marcus Aurelius was Lucius Verus, who died in 169. Marcus Aurelius died during a military campaign in 180.

The emperor's horse is magnificent! Winckelmann, the author of the first “History of Ancient Art,” believed that “a more beautiful and intelligent head of the horse of Marcus Aurelius cannot be found in nature.”

The statue I saw is a copy in the Capitoline Square; the original is kept in one of the exhibition halls of the Capitoline Museums.

The statue of Marcus Aurelius was created in the 160-180s.
This is the only equestrian statue that has survived from antiquity, since in the Middle Ages it was believed that it depicts Emperor Constantine I the Great, whom christian church canonized as “Saint Equal to the Apostles.”

In the 12th century, the statue was moved to Piazza Lateran. In the 15th century, Vatican librarian Bartolomeo Platina compared the images on the coins and recognized the identity of the horseman. In 1538 it was placed on the Capitol by order of Pope Paul III. The base for the statue was made by Michelangelo; it says: “ex humiliore loco in area capitoliam.”

Ancient historians speak of Marcus Aurelius as follows: “Marcus Aurelius was distracted from all other inclinations by philosophical studies, which made him serious and focused. This, however, did not make his friendliness disappear, which he showed, first of all, towards his relatives, then towards his friends, and also towards less familiar people. He was honest without inflexibility, modest without weakness, serious without gloom,” “He addressed the people as was customary in a free state. He showed exceptional tact in all cases when it was necessary either to keep people from evil or to encourage them to do good, to richly reward some, to justify others by showing leniency. He made bad people good and good people excellent, calmly enduring even the ridicule of some. He never showed partiality in favor of the imperial treasury when he acted as a judge in cases that could benefit the latter. Distinguished by his firmness, he was at the same time conscientious.”

However, the Romans suffered many disasters during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Life forced the philosopher-emperor to become a brave warrior and a prudent ruler.

The equestrian statue of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius was preserved only due to a mistake. This is the only equestrian bronze antique monument that has come down to us. There were many such statues in Ancient Rome, but they were all melted down in the Middle Ages, with the exception of this one, which was considered to be an image of Emperor Constantine the Great, revered by Christians:

The gilded bronze monument stood for a long time in front of the pope's residence, the Lateran Palace. In the 16th century, Michelangelo placed it in the center of the Capitoline Square:

In recent years, after restoration, Marcus Aurelius has been located under the roof of the new hall of the Capitoline Museums. There is now a copy on the square: http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/janet1981/view/66746/?page=4
It was made using the latest technologies, but, nevertheless, the difference between the original and the copy is colossal. The ancient monument is alive:

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius

On the Capitoline Square there is a monument to Marcus Aurelius - the only surviving ancient bronze equestrian statue. The statue survived only because it was considered an image of Emperor Constantine the Great, who patronized Christians and was always deeply revered by them.

Marcus Annius Catilius Severus, who went down in history under the name Marcus Aurelius, was born in Rome on April 26, 121. In 139 he was adopted by Emperor Antoninus Pius, at which time he became known as Marcus Elius Aurelius Verus Caesar. Subsequently, as emperor, he bore the official name Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (or Marcus Antoninus Augustus).

Aurelius received an excellent education. From the age of twelve he began the serious study of philosophy and studied it all his life. After his death, the philosophical work he wrote in Greek, “To Myself,” remained. Thanks to this work, Aurelius went down in history as a philosopher-emperor. From childhood, Mark learned the principles of Stoic philosophy and was an example of a Stoic: he was a moral, modest person and was distinguished by exceptional fortitude in enduring the vicissitudes of life.

"From the very youth He had such a calm character that neither joy nor grief was reflected in any way on the expression of his face.” In his essay “To Yourself” there are the following words: “Always zealously ensure that the work in which you are involved at the moment busy, to perform in a manner worthy of a Roman and a husband, with full and sincere cordiality, with love for people, with freedom and justice; and also about removing all other ideas from oneself. You will succeed if you perform every task as if it were the last in your life, free from all recklessness, from disregard for the dictates of reason caused by passions, from hypocrisy and dissatisfaction with your fate. You see how few are the requirements, fulfilling which anyone can live a blessed and divine life. And the gods themselves will not demand anything more from the one who fulfills these requirements.

Time human life- moment; its essence is eternal flow; feeling - vague; the structure of the whole body is perishable; soul is unstable; fate is mysterious; fame is unreliable. In a word, everything related to the body is like a stream, everything related to the soul is like a dream and smoke. Life is a struggle and a journey through a foreign land; posthumous glory - oblivion.

Do not act against your will, nor contrary to the common good, nor as a rash person or influenced by some passion, do not clothe your thoughts in pompous forms, do not get carried away by long-winded words or busy work...”

Antoninus Pius introduced Marcus Aurelius to government in 146, giving him the power of a people's tribune. In addition to Marcus Aurelius, Antoninus Pius also adopted Lucius Verus, so that after his death power passed immediately to two emperors, whose joint reign continued until the death of Lucius Verus in 169. But during the period of their joint reign, the final word always belonged to Marcus Aurelius.

The reign of the Antonine dynasty was perhaps the most prosperous in the history of the Roman Empire, when not only the city of Rome, but also the provinces enjoyed the benefits of peacetime and experienced economic growth, and the doors of Rome opened wide for the provincials. Aelius Aristides, addressing the Romans, wrote: “With you, everything is open to everyone. Anyone who is worthy of public office or public trust ceases to be considered a foreigner. The name of a Roman ceased to belong only to the city of Rome, but became the property of all cultural humanity. You have established the management of the world as if it were one family.

Nowadays, all cities compete with each other in beauty and attractiveness. Everywhere there are many squares, water pipes, ceremonial portals, temples, craft workshops and schools. Cities shine with splendor and beauty, and the whole earth blooms like a garden."

However, the Romans suffered many disasters during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Life forced the philosopher-emperor to become a brave warrior and a prudent ruler.

In 162, the Romans had to begin military operations against the Parthian troops, who invaded Armenia and Syria. In 163, Rome defeated Armenia, and the following year - over Parthia. But neither Armenia nor Parthia were turned into Roman provinces and retained actual independence.

The Roman victory was largely negated by the fact that in 165 the plague began among the Roman troops stationed in the East. The epidemic spread to Asia Minor, Egypt, and then to Italy and the Rhine. In 167, plague captured Rome.

In the same year, the powerful Germanic tribes of the Marcomanni and Quadi, as well as the Sarmatians, invaded Roman possessions on the Danube. The war with the Germans and Sarmatians had not yet ended when unrest began in Northern Egypt.

After the suppression of the uprising in Egypt and after the end of the war with the Germans and Sarmatians in 175, the governor of Syria, Avidius Cassius, an outstanding commander, proclaimed himself emperor, and Marcus Aurelius was in danger of losing power. Ancient historians write about this event as follows: “Avidius Cassius, who proclaimed himself emperor in the East, was killed by soldiers against the will of Marcus Aurelius and without his knowledge. Having learned about the uprising, Marcus Aurelius was not very angry and did not take any harsh measures against the children and relatives of Avidius Cassius. The Senate declared him an enemy and confiscated his property. Marcus Aurelius did not want it to go into the imperial treasury, and therefore, by order of the Senate, it went into the state treasury. Marcus Aurelius did not order, but only allowed Avidius Cassius to be killed, so it was clear to everyone that he would have spared him if it had depended on him.”

In 177, Rome fought the Mauritanians and won. In 178, the Marcomanni and other tribes again moved into Roman possessions. Marcus Aurelius, together with his son Commodus, led a campaign against the Germans, and he managed to achieve great success, but the plague began again in the Roman troops.

In portraits, Marcus Aurelius appears as a man living an inner life. Everything that arose already under Hadrian is brought to last line. Even the sleekness and external polish that connected Adrian with his external environment disappear. The hair is even thicker and fluffier, the beard is even longer, the chiaroscuro in the strands and curls is even brighter. The relief of the face is even more developed, with deeply sunken wrinkles and folds. And even more expressive is the look, conveyed in a very special way: the pupils are drilled out and raised to the heavy, half-closed eyelids. The look is the most important thing in a portrait. This is a new look - quiet, withdrawn into oneself, detached from the bustle of earth.

The honorary monuments of Marcus Aurelius include a triumphal column in honor of the German and Sarmatian campaigns and an equestrian statue. The triumphal column was built in 176–193 on the model of Trajan's Column. The Column of Marcus Aurelius is composed of thirty marble blocks with a sculptural relief that rises in a spiral and unfolds before the viewer pictures of battles with the Sarmatians and Marcomanni. At the top stood a bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius, which was later replaced by a statue of St. Pavel. Inside the column, a staircase of 203 steps is illuminated by 56 light holes. The square, in the center of which stands the column of Marcus Aurelius, is succinctly called Piazza Colonna.

The monumental bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was created around 170. In the 16th century, the statue, after a long break, was again installed according to Michelangelo's design in the Capitoline Square in Rome on a strictly shaped pedestal. It is intended for consideration with different points sight, impressing with the splendor of plastic forms. Having lived his life on campaigns, Marcus Aurelius is depicted in a toga - the clothing of a Roman, without imperial distinctions. The image of the emperor is the embodiment of the civic ideal and humanity. The concentrated face of a Stoic is filled with a consciousness of moral duty and peace of mind. He addresses the people with a broad, pacifying gesture. This is the image of a philosopher, the author of “Reflections on My Own,” indifferent to fame and wealth. The folds of his clothing merge him with the powerful body of a superbly cast slow-moving horse. The movement of the horse seems to echo the movement of the rider, complementing his image. “A more beautiful and smarter head than the horse of Marcus Aurelius,” wrote the German historian Winckelmann, “cannot be found in nature.”

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