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# The metro station Dobryninskaya (formerly Serpukhovskaya) is adorned with 16 refined bas-reliefs by Elena Janson-Manizer, wife of the author of the bronze sculptures at Ploshchad Revolyutsii station
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/metro-dobryninskaia-v-proshlom-serpukhovskaia-ukrashaiut-16-utonchennykh-barelefov-eleny-ianson-manizer-zheny-avtora-bronzovykh-skulptur-na-stantsii-ploshchad-revoliutsii-2/
- Published: 2025-05-25T17:05:01.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-01T05:29:59.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Architecture, Art, Moscow, Observations, Heritage

The marble reliefs depict, for the most part, agricultural workers. This is presumably meant to allude to the chief farming trade of each Soviet republic. Why 16 republics? The Union republics, the RSFSR included, numbered 15 from 1956 onwards; in 1950, when the station opened, there was still the Karelo-Finnish SSR, which later became an ASSR. In all likelihood that republic may be represented by the frontier guard with a dog among the fir branches.

The décor of the station has been criticised because, firstly, the emphasis falls on agriculture alone; secondly, because it shows solitary labour exclusively; and thirdly, because the bas-reliefs contain no modern means of production, no tractors, harvesting machinery or other engines.

To me the station seems very beautiful, and its distinctly Soviet multinational mood does not come across as perfunctory or vulgar; the figures themselves are graceful and free of any tinge of propaganda.

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_16625@25-05-2025_20-05-01.jpg)