Boyarynya Morozova is one of the well-known Russian personalities who left a mark on the history of their state. This woman has become the embodiment of fearlessness and stubbornness, she is a real fighter for her principles and ideals. The attitude towards the noblewoman is ambiguous, for some she is an ordinary fanatic, ready to die, just not to give up her own beliefs, in others she commands respect for her stamina and loy alty to the accepted faith. Be that as it may, this is a legendary person, and thanks to Surikov's painting, more than one generation will remember the history of Morozova.
The origin of the noblewoman Morozova
Feodosia Prokopievna was born on May 21, 1632 in Moscow, her father - Sokovnin Prokopiy Fedorovich - was a roundabout, was related to the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, Maria Ilyinichnaya. The future noblewoman was one of the courtiers who accompaniedqueen. At the age of 17, Feodosia married Gleb Ivanovich Morozov. The husband was a representative of a noble family, was related to the Romanov family, had a luxurious Zyuzino estate near Moscow, was the uncle of the prince and served as the royal sleeping bag. Gleb's brother, Boris Ivanovich, was very rich. He died in 1662, and since he never had offspring, everything passed to the next of kin.
We alth and influence of the noblewoman
After the death of Gleb Ivanovich, the fortune of both brothers passes to the young Ivan Glebovich, the son of Gleb and Feodosia, and his mother becomes the actual manager of we alth. The life story of the noblewoman Morozova is very interesting, because this woman had her own views on life. Feodosia Prokopyevna occupied the place of a riding noblewoman, had great influence, and was close to the tsar. Her we alth could only be envied: the noblewoman had several estates, but she settled in the village of Zyuzino, where she arranged her house according to the Western model. At that time it was the most luxurious estate.
Boyarynya Morozova disposed of eight (!) thousand serfs, only about 300 servants lived in her house. Theodosia had a luxurious carriage, decorated with silver and mosaics, she often took walks, harnessing six or even twelve horses with rattling chains to her carriage. During trips, the noblewoman was accompanied by about 100 slaves and slaves, protecting her from attacks. At that time, Morozova was considered almost the richest person in Moscow.
Supporter of the Old Believer faith
Boyarynya Morozova was ardentsupporter of the old faith. She always favorably treated the poor and holy fools, gave them alms. In addition, adherents of the Old Believers often gathered in her house to pray according to the Old Russian canons at the Old Believer icons. The woman closely communicated with Archpriest Avvakum, an apologist for the old faith, did not accept the reforms of Patriarch Nikon.
She wore a sackcloth in order to "pacify the flesh" in this way. But still, Avvakum was dissatisfied with Morozova, urged her to gouge out her eyes, as Mastridia did, in order to protect herself from love temptations. The archpriest also reproached the noblewoman for insignificant alms, because in her condition she could benefit a much larger number of those in need. In addition, Theodosia, although she was faithful to the old faith, attended the church of the new rite, which caused her distrust on the part of the Old Believers.
Disobedience Morozova
The tsar knew about the beliefs of the riding noblewoman, and he did not like this behavior at all. Theodosia in every way avoided church and social events, she did not even attend the wedding of Alexei Mikhailovich, saying that she was very sick. The tsar tried in every possible way to influence the obstinate noblewoman, sent her relatives to her so that they would instruct the woman and convince her to accept a new faith, but everything was in vain: Morozova stood her ground. Few knew the name of the noblewoman Morozova after she was tonsured by the Old Believers. The woman secretly accepted him and received a new name - Theodora, proving to her surroundings that she remained faithful to the old faith.
QueenMaria Ilyinichna restrained the anger of the tsar for a long time, and the high position of the noblewoman did not allow her to be punished so easily, but Alexei Mikhailovich's patience was coming to an end. On the evening of November 16, 1671, Archimandrite Joachim came to Morozova with the duma clerk Hilarion. The sister of the noblewoman Princess Urusova was also in the house. To show their disrespectful attitude towards the guests, Theodosia and Evdokia went to bed and answered the questions of those who came lying down. After interrogation, the women were shackled and left under house arrest. Two days later, Morozova was transferred first to Chudov, and then to the Pskov-Caves Monastery.
After the imprisonment of the noblewoman, her only son Ivan died, two brothers were exiled, and all the property was transferred to the royal treasury. Morozova was carefully guarded, but still she received clothes and food from people who sympathized with her, Archpriest Avvakum wrote letters to her, and one of the priests of the old faith gave communion to the unfortunate woman.
King's Punishment
Boyarynya Morozova, Princess Urusova and Maria Danilova (the wife of a Streltsy Colonel) at the end of 1674 were transferred to the Yamskaya yard. They tried to convince women by torture on the rack to accept a new faith and abandon their beliefs, but they were unshakable. They were already going to be burned at the stake, but such blasphemy was prevented by Tsarevna Irina Mikhailovna, the tsar's sister and intercessor of the boyars. Alexei Mikhailovich ordered the sisters Evdokia and Theodosius to be exiled to the Pafnutyevo-Borovsky Monastery and imprisoned in an earthen prison.
Deathnoblewomen
In June 1675, 14 servants of the noblewoman, who supported the old faith, were burned in a log house. On September 11, 1675, Princess Urusova died of starvation, Morozova also foresaw her imminent death. Shortly before her death, she asked the guards to wash her shirt in the river so that she could die in clean clothes. Theodosia died of complete exhaustion on November 2, 1675.
The theme of Surikov's painting
In 1887, after the 15th traveling exhibition for the Tretyakov Gallery, the work of the brilliant artist "Boyarynya Morozova" was bought for 25 thousand rubles. Surikov's painting is a canvas 304x587.5 cm in size, painted in oil. Today it is one of the largest exhibits of the gallery. Picture
attracts the attention of the audience from afar, captivates with the brightness of colors, the liveliness of images and spatiality. Vasily Ivanovich took as a basis the theme of the church schism of the 17th century. The painter wanted to show the hard life and deep faith of the Russian people. He managed to convey the entire tragedy of the situation: the main character is humiliated, trampled, but not broken; Morozova is doomed to death, but still appears in a victorious manner.
Surikov's interest in the fate of the noblewoman
The biography of the noblewoman Morozova interested Vasily Ivanovich for the reason that he himself comes from Siberia, and this region was famous for a huge number of Old Believers. Siberians had a positive attitude towards the old faith, therefore, in this region, handwritten "lives" belonging to the Old Believers became widespread.martyrs who suffered at the hands of representatives of the new faith. According to some reports, Surikov was introduced to The Tale of the Boyar Morozova by his godmother. Apparently, the artist was impressed by the willpower of the noblewoman, so he decided to resurrect the memory of her by depicting on a huge canvas an episode where Morozov was taken to prison.
Images of the main characters of the picture
When looking at the canvas, the central character, the noblewoman Morozova, catches the eye first of all. The description of the picture suggests that the artist spent a long time deciding on portrait studies, he painted them separately, and then put them together. Archpriest Avvakum described Theodosia as a thin woman with a shifty, lightning-fast look, and Surikov for a long time could not find such a face - fanatical, bloodless, exhausted, but proud and adamant. In the end, he copied Morozov from the Old Believers, who met Vasily Ivanovich near the Rogozhsky cemetery.
The Moscow poor man selling cucumbers became the prototype of the holy fool, but the image of the wanderer is the author himself. “Boyar Morozova” is a picture saturated with “color symphonies”. Surikov attached great importance to shades, making them seem natural. The artist watched the snow for a long time, catching all its modulations, watched how cold air affects the complexion. That is why his characters seem alive. To give the picture a sense of movement, Surikov added a running boy to the sleigh.
Evaluation of the artist's work
The story of the painting "Boyar Morozova" is veryunusual, if only because this work caused conflicting assessments and loud debates from critics during a traveling exhibition. Someone likes the work of Surikov, someone does not, but everyone agreed that he succeeded in this creation to glory. Some critics compared the canvas with a colorful Persian carpet, because the bright colors rippled in the eyes, academicians discussed various flaws in the painting, such as incorrect hand positions, etc. But still, the most famous and adamant critics, when studying the drawing in detail, should have admit - this is really a masterpiece.
Before Vasily Surikov, none of the painters depicted people of the pre-Petrine era so brightly and impartially. In the center of the canvas is a pale woman, exhausted by mental anguish, starving from a long fast, clumsy, rude people in fur coats, torlops, and quilted warmers are located around her. The crowd was divided into two parts, one sympathizes with the noblewoman, the other mocks her misfortune. Surikov managed to revive his characters. The viewer, standing near the canvas, feels himself in this crowd and, as it were, is transported in time several centuries ago.
Vasily Ivanovich realistically depicted an event that took place in the history of Russia. His work prompted people not only to learn about the fate of the noblewoman Morozova, but also to think about her act. Someone perceives her as a fanatic, someone admires her inflexibility and loy alty to principles. During the appearance of the picture, people compared the heroine with the populists and Stenka Razin. It only says thatThere are “boyar Morozovs” in every era, there will always be people who are true to their convictions.
