Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
666 coxn’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
The projector of this plan was apprenticed to a fhop-keeper at Nifhnei Novogorod ;
and, like the Swifs carpenter who built the bridge of Schaffhaufen*, unacquainted
with the theory of mechanics. Oppofite to his dwelling was a wooden clock, which ~
excited his curiofity ; by repeated examinations he comprehended the internal ftruc-
ture, and, without affiftance, formed one exactly fimilar. His fuccefs in this eflay
urged him to undertake the conftru€tion of metal clocks and watches. ‘The Emprefs,
acquainted with thefe wonderful exertions of native genius, took him under her pro-
tection, and fent him to England; from whence, on account of his ignorance of the
language, he foon returned to Ruffia. I faw a repeating watch of his workmanfhip at
the Academy of Sciences: itis about the bignels of an egg; inthe infide is reprefented
the tomb of our Saviour, with the flone at the entrance, and the centinels upon duty ;
fuddenly the {tone is removed, the centinels fall down, the angels appear, the women
enter the fepulchre, and the chant performed on Eafter-eve is heard. Thefe are
trifling, although curious performances; but the plan of the bridge was a fublime
conception. ‘This perfon,. whofe name is Kulibin, bears the appearance of a Ruffian
peafant; he has a long beard, and wears the common drefs of the country ;. he re-
ceives a penfion from the Emprefs, and is encouraged to follow the bent of his me-
chanical genius,
The nobleft monument of the gratitude and veneration paid to Peter I. is his equef-
trian ftatue in bronze, of coloflal fize; it is the work of Falconet, the celebrated
French ftatuary, caft at the eXpence of Catharine II, in honour of her great prede-
ceflor, whom fhe reveres and imitates. The monarch is reprefented in the attitude of
mounting a precipice, the fummit of which he has nearly attained. His head is un-
covered, and crowned with a laurel; he wears a loofe veft in the Afiatic ftyle, with
half-boots, and fits on a houfing of bear-fkin: the right hand is ftretched out, as in
the a& of giving benediétion to his people, and the left holds the reins. The defign
is mafterly, and the attitude bold and fpirited. The flat pofition of the right hand is
deficient in dignity, and has an unpleafing effect ; for which reafon, the view of the
left fide is moft ftriking, where the figure is graceful and animated. ‘The horfe is
{pringing upon the hind legs and the tail, which is full and flowing, appears flight-
ly to touch a ferpent, artfully contrived to aflift in fupporting the valt weight t. The
artift has, in this noble effay of genius, reprefented Peter as the legiflator of his coun-
try, without allufion to conqueft and bloodfhed ; wifely preferring his civil qualities
to his military exploits {. The contraft between the compofure of Peter (though
perhaps not characteriftic) and the fire of the horfe, eager to prefs forwards, is very
{iriking. ‘The fimplicity of the infcription correfponds to the fublimity of the defign,
PETRO PRIMO §S, PETRU PERVOMU
CATHARINA SECUNDA EKATHERENA VTORAIYA
1782. 1782.
® For the account of the bridge of Schaffhaufen, fee Travels in Switzerland, Letter I.
+ The height of the hero is eleven feet; of the horfe feventeen ; the bronze in the thinneft part is
only three lines, but increafes gradually towards the-hind feet of the horfe to one inch the weight of the
whole (exclufive of the counterpoife of ten thoufand pounds) is forty-four thoufand and forty-one Ruffian,
or thirty-fix thoufand fix hundred and thirty-fix Englifh pounds.
+ Palconet has ably refuted the cenfures urged again{t his ftatue on this account. See his Letter to
Diderot, in “ Pieces written by Monf. Falconet,” tranflated by Mr, Tooke, p.47. Where the reader
=vill alfo find an engraving of the flatue. § Catherine II. to Peter I,
Falconet
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
