"A building on the embankment
of Kriukov channel" (18 album) has been built by architect
S.O.Ovsiannikov in 1912 - 14. Unfortunately, the figures of atlantes at
the main entrance are not seen on the picture.
This is the gates of the former estate of K.G.Razumovskii,
now - A.I.Gertsen Russian Pedagogical University. The gates were built
after the palace was bought into the state treasury and given to the
Orphanage. Note the sculpture of a pelican above the gates. Pelican is a
symbol of the Pedagogical University and an unofficial symbol of pedagogy
(education). Pelicans are feeding their chicks with the fish that they
bring in the large "bag" under their beak. There is a legend
that when there is a shortage of food pelicans are feeding the chicks with
their own flesh. This example of self- sacrifice has made pelican the
symbol of pedagogy. There are several pelicans on the territory of the
University.
The Lion's bridge across the Griboedova channel has been
built in 1825 - 26 by engineers G.M.Tretter and V.A.Khristianovitch (cast
iron sculpture of lions created by P.P.Sokolov) . The sculptures are empty
inside and are made of two halves. The bridge is 27.8 m long and 2.2 m
wide.
The Bank's bridge has been built by the same engineer
Tretter at the same time (1825-26), and the sculptures of griffins are by
the same Pavel Sokolov (he is also the author of the sphinxes on Egyptian
bridge).
The bridge is 25.2 m long and 1.9 m wide. This is the narrowest bridge in
St. Petersburg, excluding various little park bridges.
The name "Bank's bridge" is from the building of the former
Assignatsionnii
bank, where the Financial-Economic college is located now.
Well, here you are... Some Russian verse about the city.
We need a higher class translator , I am afraid
Вспомнились строки*:...
Подгребает закат. И горят, словно шапки
на ворах,
Все высокие стекла. И дышит ментолом
вода.
Старый тополь над ней. Отражается -
взболтанный, дробный.
Кисть набухшую свесил, играет настенной
травой...
Тополь видит в реке вариант своей жизни
загробной:
То же самое - только прекрасней, и вниз
головой...
Достоевская ночь в подворотне, как сталь
под полою.
Связь времен - что поделаешь... Страшно
пятак уронить...
* Ирина
Знаменская. "День не кончен еще: это
время..." в сб. Молодой Ленинград.- Л.:
Сов. писатель, 1989.
And a few more frames that are not in the album:
Mariinskii palace - the stronghold of
local power.:-/
Bridges..
A bridge again - the only three-way
bridge in the city: Malo-Koniushennii across Moika and Teatralnii
across Griboedova channel.
A building on the embankment of Kriukov channel (a09_23.jpg)
