Transportation, turning and installation of the pedestal and column on the Palace Square in St. Petersburg

Abstract

The materials are devoted to the consideration of the issues of transportation, edging and installation of the pedestal and the column on the Palace Square in St. Petersburg. In addition to the album of illustrations by A. Montferrand, the drawings of Adamini Antonio, Montferrand's assistant, are considered, clarifying some aspects of the ascent. The questions about lifting the Alexander Column sometimes include doubts about the possibility of processing a large granite massif without the use of mechanical equipment. However, familiarity with the methods of manual stone processing presented in various works should convince the reader of the infinite possibilities of a person with a chisel and a hammer, especially if you add to them the perseverance, ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Russian person. In addition, we should remember a somewhat forgotten, but highly respected word -master. The most responsible and spectacular work was the lifting of the Alexander Column, which was the result of a lot of preparatory works. The construction of the platform and the inclined overpass was only part of them. A stone mass was built around the pedestal, which served as the basis for placing the capstans in two concentric circles. After the installation of the column, the finishing of the monument to the final dimensions, grinding and installation of the angel on the top were carried out for two years. Very little is known about these operations, but the presence of scaffolds made it possible to perform work at any height in any weather, and the possibility of processing granite and diabase, and their grinding has already been recalled. The installation of the angel sculpture without the use of hydraulic cranes and helicopters is hopefully no longer in doubt. The next day after the installation, they began to disassemble all the wooden structures. Stairs were built around the main vertical risers. After installation, the stonemasons continued to work with the column. For several months, more than 200 people worked simultaneously. They cut the belts left on the monolith for rolling and lifting, carried out the final finishing according to precise patterns and polished the stone. This article is devoted to the attempt to mathematically justify the possibility of what was achieved at the level of knowledge, skills, mechanisms and technologies of the beginning of the 19th century.