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Monument to Elena Pavlovna "On the Island"

Monument to Elena Pavlovna "On the Island" was a lost monument in Pavlovsk, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Erected in 1806 by order of Empress Maria Feodorovna, it stood on a small island on the Slavyanka River below the Mariental dam. The monument consisted of a marble prism on an Olonets marble pedestal, with a porphyry vase above it and bronze birds perched on the vase. One side held an inscription dated September 12, 1803; the opposite side featured a bas-relief by Ivan Martos showing the genius of death. The monument was dismantled in 1948 after wartime destruction altered the site, and the bas-relief was removed earlier for restoration and placed in the museum collection.

A slender monument to Elena Pavlovna stands near a multi-arched stone bridge over calm water surrounded by green trees.
Monument to Elena Pavlovna on the island near the stone bridge in Pavlovsk Park.
June 2021 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marble bas-relief in the Monument to Elena Pavlovna, showing a winged male figure holding a garland and staff in an arched niche.
Marble bas-relief from the Monument to Elena Pavlovna, with a winged figure shown in an arched niche.
April 2021 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marble bas-relief from the Monument to Elena Pavlovna showing a sorrowful winged figure leaning on an inverted torch.
Detail of the Monument to Elena Pavlovna, with a winged figure leaning against an inverted torch.
April 2021 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marble bas-relief of a winged nude male figure leaning on an inverted torch with a rose garland.
Close-up of a marble bas-relief from the Monument to Elena Pavlovna, showing a winged male figure in a sorrowful pose.
April 2021 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marble bas-relief of a winged nude male figure leaning on a staff with a floral wreath, set against a pink decorative wall.
Marble bas-relief of a winged figure, shown against a pink patterned wall.
June 2021 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleMonument to Elena Pavlovna “On the Island”
TypeMonument

Historical context

Date erected1806
Subject's death date12 (24) September 1803
Subject's age at death18 years old
Dedication contextDied four years after her marriage

Creator

Commissioned byDowager Empress Maria Feodorovna
Dedicated toGrand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, daughter of Paul I
Artist's assessmentMartos considered the monument one of his best works
Bas-relief artistIvan Petrovich Martos

Location and ownership

Current location of reliefExhibited in the Orchestral Room of the museum collection, together with the monument to Alexandra Pavlovna
Original settingA flagstaff with a flag stood on the island and was raised when the owners of Pavlovsk visited the estate
Original locationPavlovsk Park, Pavlovsk, Saint Petersburg, Russia, on the “flag island” in the Valley of the River Slavyanka below the Mariental dam

Physical characteristics

PedestalPedestal
Main formMarble prism standing on a pedestal
Inscribed panelA recessed marble panel on one side of the prism
InscriptionGilded copper letters reading “September 12, 1803”
Upper elementDark-red porphyry vase
DecorationBronze birds perched on the vase

Materials

Main materialMarble
Decorative elements materialBronze
Upper element materialDark-red porphyry
Pedestal materialOnega marble (Olonets marble)

Appearance

Relief compositionThe lowered hand, bowed head, and outline of wings are echoed in the rounded upper contour of the recess
Bas-relief subjectA genius of death holding a wreath of roses in the right hand and an inverted torch in the left

Iconography and meaning

SymbolismThe wreath of roses symbolizes marital happiness, and the inverted torch symbolizes death

History and restoration

Relief inscription“Ivan Petrovich Martos from Ichnya made it 1806”
Later historyThe bronze birds disappeared after 1917
Wartime damageDuring the German occupation, the dam system was destroyed, the Slavyanka River flow changed, and the island was eroded
RemovalThe bas-relief was removed for restoration in 1944 and placed in the museum collection
DismantlingThe monument was dismantled in 1948