A new bronze monument to Catherine II took its historical place in the town of Irbit (Sverdlovsk Region) 96 years after its demolition and melting.

      The monument has been restored by founders of the Yekaterinburg Art Foundation.

      The original bronze monument to Catherine the Great was set up in February, 1883 in the middle of Torgovaya Square in Irbit. It was ordered to the outstanding 19th century Russian artist and sculptor Mikhail Osipovich Mikeshin. The monument to the empress was demolished after the revolution, on May 1, 1917, the Day of Freedom, and the local museum managed to preserve only the pedestal, whereas the bronze figure was melted. Soon a monument to Lenin was set up on the empty pedestal. After the “return” of the empress the citizens decided not to take it down.  

      Restoration of the monument was carried out based on historic facts and documents.