of Emperor Alexander I, the chainmail of Yermak Timofeyevich and other pieces recalling heroes whose martial feats brought glory to Russia. The other three sides are decorated with bas-reliefs featuring allegorical figures of Wisdom and Abundance, Justice and Mercy, Peace and Victory, the last holding a shield bearing the dates 1812, 1813 and 1814. These compositions are enhanced by depictions of Ancient Roman military symbols and Russian armour. The sketches for the bas-reliefs were produced by Auguste de Montferrand. He coordinated the scale of their compositions with the monumental forms of the monument. The panels were designed to the planned size by the artist Giovanni Battista Scotti. The models were produced by the sculptors Piotr Svintsov and Ivan Lepee, the ornamental embellishments by sculptor Yevgeny Balin. The casting of the bronze was done at Charles Baird's works in Saint Petersburg. A commemorative silver rouble designed by N. Gube was struck in 1834 and it is rumoured that a chest of these coins was placed in the foundations. Later years In 1952, according to some recent reports, the authorities of the Soviet Union demanded the replacement of the statue of the angel with a statue of Joseph Stalin. A historic cast-iron railing around the column was removed during the Soviet period. The railing was restored in 2002. Further reading Ротач А. Л. Александровская колонна. Leningrad, 1966. Любин Д. В. Александровская колонна. Санкт-Петербург, издательство Государственного Эрмитажа, 2013. See also List of largest monoliths in the world Victoria Memorial at the centre of the Queen's Gardens in front of Buckingham Palace in London, UK (20th century) References Monumental columns in Russia Monuments and memorials in Saint Petersburg Cultural infrastructure completed in 1834 Palace Square Auguste de Montferrand buildings and structures Victory monuments Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Saint Petersburg