The Leninist Theme in Sculptor Matvey Manizer’s Works

The collection includes a series of medals devoted to Lenin made by famous Soviet sculptor and People’s Artist of the USSR Matvey Manizer.

The Leninist theme was widely developed in painting, graphics, posters, sculpture and medals in the 20th century. It became a central theme in works of many artists.

The series consists of 10 medals. In each medal of the series, the artist reveals an important event in the life of not only Vladimir Lenin, but of the whole country.

The series opens with The Ulyanov Family medal. One side represents the mother and father of Vladimir Lenin – Maria Ulyanova and Ilya Ulyanov. The Ulyanovs’ kids are on the other side of the medal. Older children – Anna, Alexander, Vladimir – are depicted at the top of the medal, in the second plan; juniors – Olga, Dmitry, Maria – at the bottom of the medal.

The second medal, V. Ulyanov 1887-1991, is dedicated to studies. On the Manizer medal, the future leader of the revolution is depicted first as a gymnasium student, and then as a student sitting on a bench under a branchy tree, surrounded by books and notebooks. He is holding a pencil in his hand. His gaze is directed forward.

The medals dedicated to the early years of Vladimir Ulyanov bear the narrative features. Gradually, the artist moves from narration to creating a generalized image of Vladimir Lenin. This is the third medal, Bloody Sunday 1905, on which there is no image of Lenin but its both sides are dedicated to the theme of the heroic struggle of the people.

The next medal, Lenin in Razliv, depicts a figure of a man on the shore of a lake, with an inscription around the circle: “State and Revolution” – a book that was written in the turning point of 1917.

The fifth medal, Lenin in October, with the familiar and recognizable figure of the leader, as well as the driving force of the revolution – workers, peasants and soldiers – is dedicated to the same year and important events.

The opening of the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets is commemorated on the Lenin at the 2nd Congress of Soviets (October 25, 1917) medal. The 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets adopted decrees on peace and land. Peasant walkers rushed to Lenin. The historical significance of the decree on land is revealed on the medal For Lenin's Truth. Plan for the Collectivization of Agriculture. On one side of the medal, Lenin's meeting with peasants and soldiers is depicted; on the back side – a peasant with a plow looking at a column of tractors moving across the field. These are images of the old and new villages, the old and new worlds.

The eighth medal is called Civil War. On its front side, there is an image of the battle, on the other side there is a list of settlements significant and decisive for that war, and in the center, as a slogan, memorable words from the song “Along the valleys and over the hills”.

On the next medal, Lenin in Moscow, we can see the figure of the leader again depicted in full-length close-up with the outline of the Kremlin in the background. On the back side of the medal, there are main portraits of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin – this is how the founders of the Marxist-Leninist ideology will be depicted for many decades.

The series reflected the country's electrification plan, grandiose in its complexity and scope – the Plan of the Russian State Committee on Electrification. On the medal called Lenin in 1920. Plan of the Russian State Committee on Electrification, Vladimir Lenin is depicted on the podium. His head is slightly thrown back his face is strong-willed and tense. Here the artist revealed one of the sides of Lenin's personality – his unsurpassed oratorical skills.

The series of Matvey Manizer’s medals was transferred to the museum from ROSIZO to replenish the art collection and reveal the versatility of the artists' activities. In 2017, this series was exhibited at the exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the revolution.

References: 

A. Kosareva  Leniniana 1982  http://vsemedali.ru/books/item/f00/s00/z0000004/st023.shtml

Список коллекции:

1.    The Ulyanov Family commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/17 Н-750. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

2.    Student Vladimir Ulyanov in 1887-1891 commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/18 Н-751. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

3.    Bloody Sunday January 9, 1905 commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/19 Н-752. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

4.    Lenin in Razliv commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/20 Н-753. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

5.    Lenin in October commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/21 Н-754. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

6.    Lenin at the 2nd Congress of Soviets commemorative medal (1950-1960). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/22 Н-755. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

7.    For Lenin’s Truth 1918 commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/23 Н-756. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

8.    Civil War of 1919 commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/24 Н-757. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

9.    Lenin in Moscow commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm. БОКМ-5629/25 Н-758. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ

10.    Plan of the Russian State Committee on Electrification 1920 commemorative medal (1960-1963). RSFSR. Bronze, casting. 7 х 7 х 0.5 cm.  БОКМ-5629/26 Н-759. ГОСКАТАЛОГ.РФ