Alexander Denisov’s painting depicts the installation of the Alexander Column on 30 August 1832. In order to perform the complicated engineering task of hoisting the granite monolith of more than 700 tons onto a pedestal, an original lift system was constructed that was designed by General Augustine Betancourt and consisted of scaffolding and winches. 400 workers and 200 soldiers executed this unique operation in 45 minutes. Denisov was awarded a diamond signet ring for this painting.

Denisov Alexander

Denisov, Alexander Gavrilovich
1811, St Petersburg – 1834, Berlin
Painter, genre artist, portraitist, landscapist, interior and urbanscape painter. Son of a commoner from St Petersburg.Studied under Alexei Venetsianov (1827–1830). Awarded a major silver medal for Interior of the Summer House in Count Kushelev-Bezborodko’s Garden used for Fishing. Contributed to the exhibitions of the Imperial Academy of Arts. Awarded the title of non-class artist for genre and battle scenes and a fellowship to Berlin (1833). Studiedunder Franz von Krüger at theKönigliche Akademie der Künste in Berlin (1833–1834).