Serfs-aristocrats: Who of the Russian slaves got out "into the people" and became famous all over the world

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Serfdom is undoubtedly the darkest page in the history of Russia. Legalized slavery, giving the owner undivided power over his slave, broke the fates of many talented people, left them unknown, despite their outstanding abilities. Fortunately, among the Russian nobles there were many who, appreciating the talent of their serfs, helped them to get an education and even granted freedom.

Russian Rembrandt, or how he gained freedom and how Orest Kiprensky became famous

One of the most gifted Russian portrait painters was born by the serf peasant Anna Gavrilova from the landowner Alexei Dyakonov. According to the papers, Orest was considered the son of the serf Adam Schwalbe, for whom Dyakonov gave the boy's mother (Orest Adamovich took the surname Kiprensky later as a pseudonym). The landowner did not have legitimate children, and he became attached to Orest and supported him in every possible way.

Noticing the child's great ability to paint, the biological father signed the six-year-old boy free and sent him to the school at the Academy of Arts. After completing the initial course, 15-year-old Orest became a student at the Academy. He studied in the class of historical painting, but he was better at portraits. On the first of them, the young artist portrayed his stepfather. Many years later, he exhibited this painting in Naples, and the public did not believe that it was the work of a Russian artist, attributing the authorship to Rembrandt or Rubens.

Thanks to his patrons, among whom was Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, Orest Adamovich made a creative trip to Europe. He became the first Russian painter to receive an offer to paint a self-portrait for the famous Uffiza Gallery. And when he returned to his homeland, he created his most famous and recognizable creation - the portrait of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, which became the standard of the appearance of the great Russian poet.

An iconic figure, or who helped the serf Voronikhin develop his talent as an architect, and for which he was awarded the title of academician

Andrei Nikiforovich Voronikhin, the author of one of the business cards of St. Petersburg - the Kazan Cathedral - was a serf of Count Alexander Sergeevich Stroganov, president of the Imperial Academy of Arts. The count was anxious about art and did not ignore the talents of his serfs. Andrei was interested in icon painting from childhood and made notable progress in this field. Assessing the diligence and creativity of the boy, Alexander Sergeevich sent him to study in Moscow. The great architects Vasily Bazhenov and Matvey Kazakov became the youth's mentors.

Having reached the age of 26, Andrei received the freedom and the opportunity to continue his education in Europe. Promoting Voronikhin, Stroganov, of course, had views on him as a personal architect, which happened: Andrei Nikiforovich worked hard on the buildings belonging to the count, including the mansion that had been damaged by fire, built according to Rastrelli's design. But besides this, thanks to the participation of Stroganov, the treasury of Russian architecture was replenished with such masterpieces as the Kazan Cathedral, for which Voronikhin was awarded the Orders of St. Vladimir and St. Anna; the buildings of the State Treasury and the Mining Cadet Corps; palace interiors and park structures in Pavlovsk. For the project of colonnades in Peterhof, Andrei Voronikhin received the title of academician of architecture. Until the end of his days, he served as professor of architecture at the Academy of Arts and devoted a lot of energy to training young architects.

The price of freedom, or how much money Countess Volkenstein demanded for the freedom of Mikhail Schepkin

From the serfs emerged an outstanding art worker, genius of the stage Mikhail Semyonovich Shchepkin. The son of the courtyards of Count Gabriel Volkenstein was distinguished by a sharp mind and aptitude for science and painting. But the theater became his real vocation. After the first production he saw on the count's stage, Mikhail did not think of himself as anything other than an actor. He agreed to any work related to the theater, be it an assistant decorator, rewriter of roles, prompter. And who knows at what stage Shchepkin's career would have stopped if not for His Majesty's chance. After Mikhail, who knew almost all the roles, replaced the sick artist, they started talking about him as a talented actor.

Thanks to his successful debut on the professional stage, Shchepkin received permission from the owners to play at the Barsov Brothers Theater in Kursk. His brilliant performance, distinguished by realism, quickly made him the idol of the audience. And yet the actor, who was applauded by the crowd of fans, remained a slave. And his desire to get freedom led the owners, ardent supporters of the serfdom system, into indignation - so strong that the countess asked for a letter of leave unthinkable at that time - 10 thousand rubles. Fundraising was organized by admirers of Mikhail Semyonovich's talent. Part of the amount was collected from a charity performance specially organized for this purpose, part - donations from patrons. So Mikhail Schepkin got freedom, and the Russian stage - the brightest star.

From serfs to countess: the short happiness of Praskovya Zhemchugova

Amazing vocal skills and acting talent of the daughter of the serf blacksmith of the counts Sheremetev Ivan Kovalev manifested itself in early childhood. Seven years old, Praskovya was assigned to the Sheremetevs' folk theater, where she surprisingly quickly mastered French and Italian, musical notation, learned to play the harp and harpsichord. By the age of thirteen, the girl had obeyed a difficult dramatic role. Success made Praskovya the first theater actress, and Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev gave her the surname Zhemchugova.

Over time, the girl's talent reached such a peak that theatergoers from other cities came to enjoy her magic voice and unsurpassed performance. And her beauty, intelligence, sincerity, virtue and piety so captivated Count Sheremetev that he offered her his hand and heart. Nikolai Petrovich gave freedom to his beloved and her entire family, achieved the highest permission for marriage and received the blessing of church hierarchs.

However, the high society perceived this union as a misalliance. Even the legend composed by the count about the supposedly noble origin of Zhemchugova from the Polish gentry Kovalevsky did not help. Alas, Praskovya Ivanovna was not condemned to be a countess for a long time. After two years of a happy married life, she died of consumption before reaching her 35th birthday and leaving her husband a newborn son.

Born a serf, the young countess helped the poor and disadvantaged during her lifetime. After the death of Praskovya Zhemchugova, the inconsolable Count Nikolai Sheremetev continued her good deeds.

But the serfs Abrikosov at one time even managed to become the confectionery kings of Russia.