Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli – creator of famous statue of Peter the Great in Moscow, dies at 91

He is also the author of the statue of Peter the Great on the banks of the Moskva River, a famous landmark and one of the largest monuments in the city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolence on the Kremlin website, stressing that Zurab Tsereteli was a talented sculptor and an outstanding representative of national culture.

Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli – author of the famous statue of Peter the Great in Moscow, passed away at the age of 91 photo 1

Artist ZurabTsereteli. (Photo: RIA Novosti)

Artist ZurabTsereteli passed away on the night of April 22 at the age of 91 due to cardiac arrest.

A memorial service for Zurab Tsereteli will be held on April 24 and 25 at the Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi, where he was born. The solemn coverage of his biography and funeral in the Russian press reflects the respect for the great Russian artist.

The history of Russia is a major theme that Zurab Tsereteli has pursued tirelessly throughout his creative career.

Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli – author of the famous statue of Peter the Great in Moscow, passed away at the age of 91 photo 2

Funeral of Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli in the Cathedral. (Photo: RIA Novosti)

During the 1970s and 1980s he was the Chief Artist of the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1979 Zurab Tsereteli was elected a member of the USSR Academy of Arts. In 1980 he was appointed Chief Artist of the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow.

Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli – author of the famous statue of Peter the Great in Moscow, passed away at the age of 91 photo 3

The statue of Peter the Great inaugurated in 1997 in Moscow. (Photo: RIA Novosti)

His life and work are celebrated for their great achievements. From 1994 to 1999, he was the artistic director and coordinator of the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. He was responsible for the sculpture of the bronze monument of the Victory Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow, the tallest monument in Russia.

Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli – author of the famous statue of Peter the Great in Moscow, passed away at the age of 91 photo 4

Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. (Photo: THUY VAN)

On September 5, 1997, the Peter the Great monument built by Zurab Tsereteli was inaugurated. This 98-meter-high monument is a unique engineering and construction solution, becoming one of the highlights of Moscow and is also known to many Vietnamese people.

This artist's monumental works can still be found in many countries around the world.

Zurab Tsereteli has been awarded many major medals and awards such as People's Artist of the USSR (1980) and the Russian Federation (1994); Hero of Socialist Labor (1990). Winner of the Lenin Prize (1976), State Prize of the USSR (1970, 1981-1982).