Card Odessa, 1981

A 1981 Soviet collectible postcard showcasing the famous bronze sculptural group ‘Lioness with Cubs’ in the City Garden of Odesa.

What is shown on the postcard

The photograph features a close-up of a dark bronze figure of a seated lioness protecting her two cubs. The sculpture is set on a low, rough-textured stone pedestal. Lush green crowns of park trees fill the background, creating a vibrant natural contrast against the dark metal monument.

Historical note

The sculptural group ‘Lioness with Cubs’ (along with its companion piece ‘Lion’) was created in the second half of the 19th century by the renowned French animalier sculptor Auguste Nicolas Cain. Originally, these statues adorned a private estate in Odesa. Following nationalization in the Soviet era, they were relocated to the City Garden, where they became a popular public attraction.

Present day

Today, the ‘Lioness with Cubs’ sculpture remains in the heart of Odesa’s City Garden on Derybasivska Street. In the 2000s, the monument underwent restoration to clean the bronze from oxidation. The pair of lion sculptures continues to be one of the most recognizable landmarks of Odesa’s central park.

Location (map)

Address: Derybasivska St, City Garden, Odesa, Ukraine

Coordinates: 46.484722, 30.733611
(Google Maps)

Coordinate source: Coordinates of the ‘Lioness with Cubs’ sculpture in the City Garden of Odesa.

Questions and answers

• Who is the sculptor of the lioness statue in Odesa? The bronze sculpture was created by the prominent 19th-century French animalier sculptor Auguste Nicolas Cain.
• Where were these lion statues originally located? The matching statues of the lion and the lioness originally belonged to a private estate in Odesa and were moved to the public City Garden during the Soviet period.
• What is the current condition of the monument? The monument has been restored, cleaned of oxidation, and still decorates the central part of the City Garden on Derybasivska Street.

See also

• Odesa postcards
• 1981 postcards

The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Odesa from 1981.