Sphinxes of the Mining Institute

In the courtyard of the Mining Institute, located on Vasilievsky Island, among the greenery of an old garden, two small black sculptures with noble and expressive female faces appeared in 1826. Dressed in light lace shawls, dark-skinned, with diadems on their heads, they resemble ancient Greek young beauties. These sculptures of a rich dark color have very expressive female faces. It is no wonder they are considered the most feminine. The author of these works is the sculptor Postnikov. The building of the Mining Cadet Corps, later renamed the Mining Institute, facing the Neva River between the 21st and 22nd lines of Vasilievsky Island, was built in 1806-1811 in the neoclassical style according to the design of the great architect Andrey Voronikhin, the architect of the Kazan Cathedral. At the same time, antique sphinxes appeared, but initially, they decorated the vestibule inside the building. Later, they were placed in the courtyard. It is practically impossible to get into the courtyard of the Mining University without being a student or a teacher. However, there is a museum in the Mining Institute that can be visited by prior appointment, and it is free of charge; the sphinxes can be seen from the museum windows.