Orlovsky B.I., (1796-1837), sculptor

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ORLOVSKY (real name Smirnov) Boris Ivanovich (1796-1837), sculptor, adherent of Classicism. Born into a family of serfs. From 1809 studied in Moscow under S.P. Campioni, and from 1817 in St. Petersburg under A. Triscorni. He was emancipated in exchange for the marble bust of Emperor Alexander I (1822, the State Hermitage) and entered the Academy of Arts. In 1823-28 he improved his skills in the workshop of B. Thorvaldsen in Rome. In 1828 he was invited to St. Petersburg to work on the monuments to M.B. Barclay de Tolly and M.I. Kutuzov. Bronze figures, which were cast by his models and installed in front of Kazan Cathedral in 1837, became a milestone in the history of Russian monument-sculpture. In 1831 he became member and teacher at the Academy of Arts and in 1836 achieved professorship. He created the bronze Angel figure of the Alexander Column (1831-32) and sculptural decorations for the Moscow Triumph Gates (1833-37). Other distinguishing work includes a bronze group for Jan Usmar Reining Up a Ropeable Bull (1831-36, the State Russian Museum). Orlovsky's creativity is characterised by laconic, psychological moderation and clarity of composition. In 1836 Alexander Pushkin mentioned Orlovsky in his verse To an Artist. He was originally buried at Smolenskoe Cemetery, and his ashes were later moved to the Necropolis of Artists.

Reference: Шурыгин Я. И. Борис Иванович Орловский, 1792-1837. Л.; М., 1962.

V. V. Antonov. Alexander I, Emperor
Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich, Prince (Mikhael Andreas)
Campioni Santin Petrovich
Kutuzov (Golenishchev-Kutuzov) Mikhail Illarionovich, Gracious Prince
Orlovsky (real name Smirnov) Boris Ivanovich
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Thorvaldsen Bertel
Triscorni Agostino
Шурыгин Я. И. Борис Иванович Орловский, 1792-1837. Л.; М., 1962 Hermitage
Hermitage
Academy of Arts
Academy of Arts
Kazan Cathedral
Moscow Triumphal Arch
Alexander Column
Necropolis of Artists