Clodt Petro

Baron Peter Jakob Clodt von Jürgensburg 1805-1867 – Russian sculptor from the Baron family of Claude von Jürgensburg. Academician and Honored Professor of the Imperial Academy of Arts. A real state adviser (1859).

For two years Klodt studied independently, copied modern and ancient works of art and worked from nature. From 1830 he was a free student of the Imperial Academy of Arts, his teachers were the rector of the Academy I.P. Martos, as well as masters of sculpture SI Halberg and B.I. Orlovsky. By approving the young sculptor’s work and talent, they helped him succeed. All this time Klodt lived and worked in one of the basements.

Claude’s talent and perseverance brought unexpected results: from the early 1830s, his statuettes depicting horses began to enjoy great success.

A strong impetus to his career was a large government order for the sculptural design of the Narva Triumphal Arch together with such experienced sculptors as S.S. Pimenov and VI Demut-Malinowski. On the attic of the arch is a chariot of the goddess of glory, carrying six horses, made of wrought copper according to the model of Claude in 1833. In contrast to the classic images of this plot, the horses performed by Claude rush forward and even stand up. At the same time, the whole sculptural composition gives the impression of rapid movement.

After performing this work, the author gained worldwide fame and patronage of Nicholas I. There is a legend that Nicholas I said: “Well, Klodt, you make horses better than a stallion.”

Throughout his career, Klodt worked in the field of small plastic surgery. The statuettes of this author were highly valued by his contemporaries. Some of them are included in the collection of museums, such as the State Russian Museum.