A monument showing Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, characters from Arthur Conan Doyle's world-famous detective stories, has been opened in Moscow in front of the British Embassy.
This year marks the 120th anniversary of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. These fictional characters from Arthur Conan Doyle's world-famous detective stories are very popular in Russia.
And a monument showing them together – the first of its kind – has been erected in Moscow.
It brings the spirit of the late. Victorian era has moved from London's Baker Street to Moscow. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson now have a new home in front of the British Embassy.
The first-ever statue portraying the two together is based on the Russian screen version of the book which strangely enough outstrips all other movies about the charismatic detective in popularity, even in Britain.
Vasily Livanov as Holmes was even granted the Order of the British Empire for his excellent portrayal of the character and was received by the Queen personally.
“This is not my personal victory. This is the victory of the Russian school of acting. And the new monument is one of the ways to stimulate cultural communication between Russia and Britain,” Mr Livanov noted.
And Livanov's portrayal of the legendary detective certainly strikes a chord with many Britons.
“Mr Livanov's presentation of Sherlock Holmes is one of the best I've ever seen. This is where the two different cultures meet. The actor captures this very English personality,” said Anthony Brenton, British ambassador to Russia.
Sculptor Andrey Orlov worked together with Livanov creating the monument.
“He helped me with pieces of advice. Livanov went to art school. So we speak the same language,” Mr Orlov stressed.
