Bronze Bust of Yaroslav the Wise

A bronze bust inkwell of Yaroslav the Wise (c. 978 – 1054), Grand Prince of Kiev. Attached to a stepped marble base, the piece is cast with fine detail. A hinged lid, formed at the hat, opens to access the inkwell.

Yaroslav I Vladimirovich (c. 978–20 February 1054), better known as Yaroslav the Wise, was Grand Prince of Kiev from 1019 until his death in 1054. He was also earlier Prince of Novgorod from 1010 to 1034 and Prince of Rostov from 987 to 1010, uniting the principalities for a time. Yaroslav’s baptismal name was George after Saint George.

As the Grand Prince of Kiev, Yaroslav focused on foreign policy, forming alliances with Scandinavian countries and weakening Byzantine influence on Kiev. He was a patron of literary culture, sponsoring the construction of Saint Sophia Cathedral in 1037 and promoting the first work of Old East Slavic literature by Hilarion of Kiev.

Yaroslav married Ingegerd Olofsdotter in 1019 and had several children who married into foreign royal families. His children from his second marriage went on to rule various parts of Kievan Rus’. Yaroslav was known for promoting unity among his children and emphasizing the importance of living in peace.