The owl adorning the Academy of Arts on Vasilievsky Island sits on its roof alongside Minerva and three geniuses of the arts. Its story, rich with drama and restoration, reflects not only the fate of the sculpture but also the painting of the era of art and culture in Saint Petersburg.
First installed in 1786, the wooden sculpture by I. P. Prokofiev embodied the refinement and grandeur of art. However, fate had its plans, and in April 1819, a storm swept away this work of art, leaving only memories behind.
After many years of hard work and the desire to restore what was lost, in 1885 a new version of the composition shone on the dome of the Academy of Arts — recreated from von Bock’s sketches and covered with a thin copper sheet. However, even this splendor could not withstand the challenges of time — in 1900, a fire at the academy took yet another masterpiece from the city.
Nevertheless, the love of art prevailed. In 2003, in honor of the city’s 300th anniversary, a new composition 5 meters tall was created at the "Monumentsculpture" factory based on the original sketches. This was the third restoration, returning the goddess, her geniuses, and the owl to their rightful place.
The solemn moment of installing the sculpture on the dome of the Academy of Arts became a bright event in the city’s life. The people gathered on University Embankment watched with excitement and curiosity as Minerva returned to her place, where she once again became not only a symbol of art but also an embodiment of strength and perseverance in human creativity.
More detailed information about the Academy of Arts can be found here: https://reveal.world/story/zdanie-peterburgskoj-akademii-nauk-imperatorskoj-sankt-peterburgskoj-akademii-nauk
