Focus on this artwork and discuss the Creation.
Graf Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov died on November 6, 1856, and buried in Odesa Cathedral. Soon after his death, the "Society of Agriculture of South Russia" whose president he was, unanimously adopted a proposal to erect a monument to him. The Society appealed to Alexander II of Russia for permission to start collecting of money via subscription for the construction of a monument.The highest permission was granted, and a subscription inside the whole empire was successful.The vice-president of the Society, Graf M.D. Tolstoy was elected as the Chairman of the Committee for the collection of offerings, and he became the first and most generous contributor. Emperor Alexander II donated 3000 silver rubles, many citizens of Odesa contributed in the first days of the opening. Donations came from both Russians and foreigners.The sculpture was by German Friedrich Brugger (1815–1870). Implementation of all the bronze works, the statue of Vorontsov and the bas-reliefs, were committed via the Russian envoy in Munich, Privy Councillor Severin to the author of the project with the payment of 32,000 Bavarian guldens including delivery to Trieste or Vienna.The likeness was achieved as the sculptor was able to take advantage of the last portrait of Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov by the Berlin master of portraiture Franz Krüger (1797–1857).
As per request of the Committee, the pedestal was made from "mountain-boulders" from the southern coast of Crimea. The Sevastopol I-st guild merchant P.A. Telyatnikov took over the making of the pedestal. According to his estimates  the pedestal, including delivery, should have cost 12,000–13,000 rubles. However, the prepared stone boulders drowned in the sea despite the precautions taken. The estimated loss was more than 7000 rubles, but Telyatnikov added 3000 rubles from his own pocket.Eleven stone blocks, the smaller of which weighed more than 200 pounds, were mined near Ayu-Dag for the plinth, cornice, and the middle of the monument's pedestal. The mountain "was torn by gunpowder" in one and a half versts from the Black Sea coast. The stone blocks were dragged through rocks and ravines—which workers had to fill with stones and cut trees—to load onto the ship. It was impossible to use horses or bulls in these conditions. For three months, about 70 people were involved in  works every day. There were days when a stone block overcame only one sazhen (sazhen (2.13 metres) during the day. And a new obstacle was waiting on the shore: the precipice in height of 4 sazhens, which was extended by shallow and this shallow did not allow the ship to approach the shore. It was necessary to build a bridge, which was completed and had length of 20 sazhens. The swell at sea also raised difficulties and only during some hours per day, during the calm weather, was possible to carry out works.On the way to Odesa the ship was towed by the steamship Alexander, employed by the Society of Shipping and Trade. Despite strong winds increasing the loss of stability due to bigger stones being placed on the deck due to the inability to load them into the hold, the blocks arrived safely. On arrival in Odesa the stone blocks were moved via oak rollers, which were placed under the huge stone blocks to the  monument site.
According to the expenses report of the Committee all summary offerings collected were 45,072 rubles 12 kopecks, including 13,134 rubles 50 kopecks in Odesa. The sculptor Friedrich Brugger received 21,125 rubles 18 kopecks, the pedestal's stones cost 15,000 rubles, and the finishing of the pedestal cost 5,097 rubles 23 kopecks.
Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov Ayu-Dag V Alexander II of Russia Bavarian gulden verst Alexander II Crimea Graf Odesa Cathedral ruble Friedrich Brugger Odesa sazhen Franz Krüger Black Sea Munich Vienna Trieste Russia