The history of the picture Ivan Kramskaya is unknown. Description of the painting of Kramsky "Unknown

Plot

A young woman drives in an open carriage on Nevsky Prospect at Palace Pavilions. To the right of her back is seen by the Alexandrinsky Theater. Woman's costume - according to the latest fashion of the 1880s: Velvet Hat "Francis" with a matched ostrich pen, a Skobelev's "Skobelev's" coat of a dark velvet, shot down, thin gloves made from Swedish (that is, outlined, like suede).

"Unknown", 1883

Such tendentity of the outfit was causing and even indecent at that time. The aristocracy gradually poorly and could no longer afford so zealously follow fashion. On the contrary, in the highest light, it was passed to intentionally lagging behind new trends in clothing. Underlined treasureness could afford the ladies of a seating: the curtisanka and the contents.

The critic of Stasov and at all called her a cockfish in a wheelchair. The fact is that at that time the revered lady did not drive around alone. So they did either prostitutes, or women who sought to emancipation and who had thrown a challenge to society with their demonstratively independent behavior. Also, for example, Anna Karenina was behaved.

Etude to the picture found in Prague in the private assembly

The view of the unknown combines the arrogance, royalness and sadness. Such an inexplicable combination along with the lack of a woman name creates a mystery.

Context

Before the exhibition of the Mobile, at which the audience had to get acquainted with the "Unknown", the artist was extremely excited. Even left the supernisage. And when he returned, he was met by an enthusiastic crowd. Kramsky picked up and carried on their hands. And every torture - who is depicted in the picture?

Ekaterina Dolgorukova

The mysterious silence of the painter gave rise to a mass of legends. According to one of the versions, Kramskaya wrote "unknown" from his daughter Sofia. On the other, it is a certain peasant Matrin Savvishna, which, despite the Will of Mother, a nobleman Bestuzhev in his wife. Allegedly Kramskaya met her in St. Petersburg and was fascinated. Another hypothesis says that this is Ekaterina Dolgorukova, the mistress of Alexander II, from which four children were born from the emperor.

"Girl with a cat", 1882. Portrait of Sofia, Kramsky's daughter

No hypothesis is withstanding checks. There were no diary records of Kramsky or letters, where it would be clearly called the name of the muse.

Fate artist

Ivan Kramskaya came to painting from photographic case. In the Voronezh province of people with knowledge of the case, which could be trained by Ivan's drawing, was not. Yes, and the money from his father is a writer in the Duma - not too unnecessary. To make a living, Kramsky settled in the photographer, where with a watercolor retouching pictures.

At 19, he moved from Voronezh province to St. Petersburg, where after the year, all the same photoshop work entered the Academy of Arts. There he met like-minded people who subsequently constitute a comradist of the Movies. In the meantime, 14 students staged a riot, demanding to allow them to choose the plots themselves, rather than write mythological cloths.

Self portrait (1867)

Later, it was Kramskaya who was the ideologist of the "Partnership of Mobile Art Exhibitions". He promoted the idea of \u200b\u200bthe public role of the artist and his responsibility, insisted on the need for realism on the canvas.

(1872)

He knew and appreciated as a portraitist. The very same Kramsky was tired of this series of orders. Several times he applied to Pavel Tretyakov with a request to provide him for a year - during this time the painter planned to carry out his creative ideas that were not related to portraits. But alas, understanding of the patronage and collector did not find.

I lived the Kramskaya long, but died while working on a portrait of Dr. Rahafus: the artist suddenly leaned and fell - aortic aneurysm. It was Ivan Kramsky 49 years old.

I. Kramskaya. "Unknown".

One of the most unusual works of the Kramsky "Unknown" (1883), still worries critics and spectators with their mysteriousness. Who is depicted in the portrait? It is not known, even the artist himself neither in diaries nor in letters never mentioned about the picture or a word nor a hint. Holly's painting almost all Petersburg, enthusiastic contemporaries wrote about her ("Lama in a wheelchair, per hour walking along Nevsky, from three to five o'clock in the afternoon, in a velvet dress with a fur, with a magnificent dark beauty of a semi-chart-type ..." ), But no one has so disgraced her mystery.

The ambiguity of the plot of "unknown" (1883) led to mutually exclusive interpretation of the picture. Perhaps, neither in one of his picture a person is not present on canvas with such a teasing non-responsibility and at the same time does not remain so internally mysterious and closed for the viewer. "Unknown" as if embodies the reality of the presence of the ideal in life and at the same time its unattainableness.

There were many hypotheses about who was the lady who served as the artist's model. The version is quite popular about the collection of image and the use of the features of various women. There is a fairly sensational assumption that "Unknown" is a portrait of Catherine Dolgoruki, the light princess Yuryevskaya ...

In 1878, Emperor Alexander II became a father, his daughter was born. But ... the daughter did not give birth to a legitimate empress, and his favorite woman, his last and the most fiery love - Ekaterina Dolgoruky. And the emperor asked I. Kramsky to write her portrait. The artist prepared for his writing, but all this was kept in deep mystery. Ekaterina Mikhailovna and her children did not recognize the relatives of the emperor and it was very insulted. Therefore, when I am posing Kramsky, she expressed a desire to look in the portrait proud and independent, and pointed the place, by which it should pass in the stroller in the picture. This is Anichkov Palace, where the heir to the emperor with his family lived.
Kramskaya worked on a portrait for a long time, multiplied him many times. Two years have passed and ... the portrait customer was killed, Emperor Alexander II. The meaning of the work was lost. Dolgoruky with children sent abroad.
The portrait sadly stood in the workshop and only three years after the death of the emperor, in 1883, the artist put a picture at a mobile exhibition, calling her "Unknown" ...

She or not, I don't know, but so I was excavated, comparing and exploring, modern art historians.
Here is the original, compare and decide: it is similar or not Catherine Dolgoruky to "Unknown";)

Princess E.M. Dolgoruky. The photo.

41-year-old Emperor Alexander II first saw Catherine Dolgorukov in 1859, when she was 13 years old by visiting their estate in Ukraine. Soon, the father of Catherine Mikhailovna ruined and died, the mother with four sons and 2 daughters were without funds. The emperor family of Dolgoruky took care: Having assisted the entry of the Dolgoruky brothers to St. Petersburg military institutions, and the sisters to the Smolny Institute. Large training was conducted at the expense of the sovereign. In 1865, the Smolny Institute was visited by the Emperor by tradition. He remembered the sisters of Dolgoruky and wanted to see them. 18-year-old Ekaterina Dolgoruky struck Alexander II, he fell in love with her without memory. Empress Maria Alexandrovna was already sick and did not get out of bed. The king completely lost his head and persistently cared for Catherine.

Ekaterina Dolgorukhak for the sake of love for the king forever destroyed his reputation, donated not only the life in the light with the entertainment inherent on it, but in general, a normal family life. When they had a son of Georgy with his king, and then two daughters, she had a new sorrows: her children were bastards. Alexander was proud of his son, said with laughter (why with a laugh?) That in this child more than half of Russian blood - such a rarity for Romanovs! In 1874, the Children was given the title of the bright princes of Yuryevsky ...

The Empress was still alive, and the king settled the Dolgoruky with children in the Winter Palace. The novel of the emperor met the condemnation of the imperial family, the environment of the emperor was divided into two parties: the party of the Large and the Party of the heir to the throne of Alexander Alexandrovich. Maria Alexandrovna suffered silently. On May 2, 1880, the Empress died, and on July 6, Alexander II secretly marked with E.M. Dolgoruky. He was thinking about crowing it. She was assigned to the title of the bright princess Yuryevskaya, stressing that her race began to be started from Yuri Dolgoruky. On March 1, 1881, the emperor was killed by terrorists from the organization "People's Volia".

______________________

The bright Princess Ekaterina Mikhailovna Yuryevskaya (Ur. Princess Dolgoruky)

****

"Love you, my katya is"

Another photo for comparison is kindly granted by one of the diary readers. There are some other angle, perhaps even more similar to the one that is used by Kramsky ...

And here's another story about a woman who could be the model of Kramsky. True, art historians noted that the story is not confirmed by any documentary evidence and it is not clear at all, where her legs "grow".
But the story, even being a myth, is beautiful in its own way.

In the Fatesky district of Kursk province was the estate of the publy nobility of Bestuzhva. She had a considerable relatives in St. Petersburg and there is also a mansion.
The nephew of the landowner, officer, having resigned and returning home from the Caucasus home to St. Petersburg, drove to the aunt.
Young Bestuzhev was struck by the extraordinary attractiveness and beauty of her maid - taken from the neighboring village of the peasant. Because of this, he was delayed in the estate ... Having enlisted the consensus of his chosen, the nephew turned to the aunt with a prayer, so that she was released with him the maid on which he decided to marry after presenting it to his parents.

After listening to an unusual request, the landowner was indignant - how could this pillars marry a simple peasant?!. But he stood on his own so hard that, although not immediately, but still won.
In St. Petersburg, young Bestuzhev introduced his parents to his parents. Special objections did not follow, because the bride was captivated and the parents of the groom. She began to train etiquette, dancing, she turned out to be a nice voice. However, they trained and ordinary literacy.
After the wedding, the happiness of the young was sometimes died because the "in humans" had misunderstandings due to the unusual beauty and attractiveness of Matrena Savvishna. Her "captive" was also the painter Ivan Kramskaya. He sometimes had in their family. Beauty, undoubtedly, could not not be interested in Kramsky as a painter.
... as a winter day in rainy weather, when the wind blowing down from the sea bay, the Kramskaya came to Besyuzhev. He was met by his husband Matrena Savvishna, who helped the guest to remove a coat and a hat, and then spent it in the hall and ordered to serve hot tea. Soon the Matrin Savvishna was rapidly entered the hall, unusually excited, ruddy. When the spouse helped her to remove a fur coat, then she spoke several times impatiently: "Oh, what meeting now I have!"
Immediately, for tea, she told the spouse and the guest that he met her former hostess - the landowner from the Fatest County. That, in turn, found out her former maid and, obviously, decided that Matraine Savvishna immediately should sink her thanks for the permission to leave her nephew. But the former maid drove past with such an independent and proud view, they say, I do not know you and I do not want to know ...
The story made an indelible impression on the Kramsky. In the picture, which he decided to write, will certainly be necessary to express not only its attractiveness, but to show at least to some extent and the inner world of this charming young woman. As far as the artist managed, art historians argue to this day.
But the family life did not hold down, her husband happened to cause too rheuble cavaliers for a duel. Three times were such duels, but they all ended with reconciliation. Nevertheless, they could not not spoil the relationship in the family. In addition, their son got sick and died. All this prompted the nurse of his wife Matrena Savvishna to initiate a petition to the church about the dissolution of marriage, which was carried out.
Having learned about this, Kramskaya found my duty to spend Matreus Savvishna -ona decided to return to his native village towards his older sister. At the same time, it was agreed that she would write to him. For a long time there was no news. Kramskaya himself wrote a letter to the village, but did not receive a response. Arriving in Fate, Kramskaya learned sad news: in the path of Matrena Savvishna, he was seriously ill and in the Fatezh, in the Zemstvo hospital, died.
According to the existing one in those years, only citizens were buried in the city cemetery, Matreus Savvishna buried in a cemetery in the village of Milhenino village near the city.
During his stay in Fatezh and in his native village, Matrena Savvishna Kramskaya made several sketches, according to which such famous paintings were written as "a man with a bridle", "Halfbrush" and "Rural Forge".

Source © Dmitry Kramarenko

www.old.kurskcity.ru/events/kram-n.html.

1. Ivan Kramskaya

Unknown. Etude. 1883 Private Assembly of Friedrich, Prague

Unknown 1883 Tretyakov Gallery

By calling his picture "Unknown", smart Kramskaya fastened the halo of mysteriousness forever. Contemporaries literally lost in guesses. Its image caused anxiety and anxiety, a vague premonition of depressing and dubious new - the appearance of a woman's type, which did not fit into the previous system of values. "It is unknown: who is this lady, decent or sell, but a whole era sits in it," they stated some. In our time, the "unknown" Kramsky became the embodiment of aristocracy and secular refinement. As if the Tsarina she rises above the misty white cold city, driving in an open carriage according to Anichkovo Bridge. Her outfit is a hat "Francis", decorated with elegant light feathers, "Swedish" gloves, stitched from the finest skin, coat "Skobeliev", decorated with sable fur and blue satin ribbons, coupling, a gold bracelet - all this fashionable details of a female costume 1880s GG, applying for expensive elegance. However, this did not mean accessories to the highest light, rather, on the contrary, the Code of Unwritten Rules excluded strictly follow the fashion in the highest circles of Russian society.

"Lady in a stroller, per hour walking along Nevsky, from three to five hours of afternoon, in a velvet dress with fur, with a magnificent dark beauty of a semi-genuine type ..." So on March 24, 1883, writer Peter Boborakin reported in the "stock newspaper" about the appearance In the urgent town "Unknown".

Look at this mysterious lady came out almost the entire Petersburg. Proudly leaning back in the carriage, looking into the public by a teasing gaze of half-woven shimmering eyes, leaving the tender rounded chin, the elastic smoothness of matte cheeks and a lush feather on the hat, - she drove under the pearl sky of a huge canvas, as in the middle of the world.
Date of creating a work: 1883

Unable to take away the excitement, Kramskaya decided to leave the exhibition, where his "unknown" was shown for the first time, and return to the end of the venice. The noisy crowd met him at the entrance and suffered in her arms. Success was complete. He noted by the painful eye of the artist - everything is: princes and officials, merchants and contractors, writers and artists, students and master ...

Tell me who she is? - Arrived friends to the artist.

- "Unknown".

Call, as you want, but tell me - where did you get this treasure?

Invented.

But he wrote from nature?

Maybe from nature ...

Many artists wrote mysterious women over the centuries. But everyone had prototypes. They could guess, argue, but in the end, the mystery was opened. He received fame even a carefully hidden image of "Madonna" Bothichelli, she was Simoneetta Vespucci, a notable lady, someone else's wife, passionate love Juliano Medici. Even Sicstinskaya wrote from nature, in what, although Lukovo, recognized Raphael: "To draw this portrait of Madonna, I needed to see many". And to explain such a courageous challenge of Kramsky, who, emphasizing the absolute incognito of his model, called it - an unknown?

On this subject I have two versions: either Nature of the unknown was originally ugly, and the artist in the portrait gave her almost perfect features, or they associated them something else. One can be approved with confidence: Of course, the "unknown" Kramsky is a masterpiece. But ... a masterpiece of a special kind. With his, separate from all other works of the artist, life.

http://www.exposter.ru/kramskoi.html

The picturesque etude to the painting "Unknown", which is stored in Prague, in the private assembly (1883).

This is perhaps the most famous work of Kramsky, the most intriguing, which remains incomprehensible to this day and unsolved. By calling his picture "Unknown", smart Kramskaya secured forever over her halo of mystery. Contemporaries literally lost in guesses. Its image caused anxiety and anxiety, a vague premonition of depressing and dubious new - the appearance of a woman's type, which did not fit into the previous system of values. "Unknown: who is this lady, decent or coherent, but a whole era sits in it," they stated some. Stasovas loudly called the heroine of Kramsky "Cockfather in a wheelchair." Tretyakov also admitted Stasov that the "previous works" of Kramsky, he likes more than the latter. There were critics that joined this image with Anna Karenina Lion Tolstoy, who came down from the height of their social status, with Nastasya Filippovna Fedor Dostoevsky, rising above the position of the fallen woman, were also called the names of the ladies of light and sewers. By the beginning of the 20th century, the scandalousness of the image was gradually overlapped by a romantic-mysterious Aura of the Bloque Kovskaya "Stranger". In the Soviet times, the "unknown" Kramsky became the embodiment of aristocracy and secular sophistication, almost the Russian Sycstine Madonna - the ideal of unearthly beauty and spirituality.

In a private assembly in Prague, a picturesque etude is kept in Prague, who persuars that Kramskaya was looking for an artistic image ambiguity. Etude is much simpler and sharper, applooked and definitely pictures. It sesters the audacity and authority of the woman, the feeling of devastation and the validity, which is not available in the final version. In the picture "Unknown", Kramskaya is passionate about the sensual, almost teasing beauty of his heroine, her tender dark skin, her velvet eyelashes, slightly arrogant Karich's surname, her majestic posture. As if the Tsarina she rises above the misty white cold city, driving in an open carriage according to Anichkovo Bridge. Her outfit - Francis hat, decorated with graceful light feathers, "Swedish" gloves, stitched from the finest skin, "Skobelev" coat, decorated with sable fur and blue satin ribbons, coupling, a gold bracelet - all this fashionable details of the female costume 1880s GG, applying for expensive elegance. However, this did not mean belonging to the highest light; Rather, on the contrary, the Code of Unwritten Rules excluded strictly following fashion in the highest circles of Russian society.

Exquisite sensual beauty, majesty and grace of "unknown", some alienation and arrogance cannot hide the feeling of insecurity in the face of the world to which it belongs and from which it depends. Kramskaya's picture raises the question of the fate of beauty in imperfect vality.

The heroine is dressed in the last fashion (season of 1883) - so they argue experts on the history of the costume.

The pink frosty haze is written so virtuoso, which seems to appear the feeling of the cold. Kramskoy knew how to write light air when he wanted it.

The place of action is no doubt - this is Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg. The famous buildings are discharged Kramski, on the one hand, quite sketchously, and on the other, it is quite recognizable.

Russian Joconda

One of the most prominent works of Ivan Kramsky - the picture "Unknown"written in 1883 and is part of the meeting of the State Tretyakov Gallery.
When this portrait was presented at the 11th exhibition of the Mobile Partnership (1833), the scandal broke out. And what could cause indignation of the advanced Russian intelligentsia? Almost a lady sitting in an open crew is depicted. Yes, she is luxuriously dressed and as if he descended from a fashionable picture of his time. This gorgeous woman who has clearly considerable means to be not just a prosperous, but bold and independent to be somewhat losing to look at the public around themselves.
This is an intriguing, which remains incomprehensible to this day and unsolved, canvas. By calling his picture "Unknown", Kramskaya fastened forever over her halo of mystery. Contemporaries literally lost in guesses. Its image caused anxiety and anxiety, a vague premonition of depressing and dubious new - the appearance of a woman's type, which did not fit into the previous system of values. "Unknown: Who is this lady, decent or coherent, but there is a whole epoch in it" (from the statements of contemporaries about the picture).
There was a lot of rumors around this picture during the lifetime of the artist, many interesting versions arose about the prototype of the most famous "unknown".

Yes, and we, descendants, do not cease to be surprised at this beauty, try to solve the scent of the picture. And we continue to be asked for the previous questions, we look at the smallest details of the painting.

The canvase shows a young woman passing in an open carriage on Nevsky Prospect at Pavilions Anichkova Palace. To the right of her back is seen by the Alexandrinsky Theater. She is dressed in the last fashion of the 1880s. As if the Tsarina she rises above the misty white cold city, driving in an open carriage according to Anichkovo Bridge.

That's about this place then:

Anichkov Bridge in the XIX century

And now:

Anichkov Most.

Alexandrinsky Theater (he is the Russian State Academic Drama Theater. A. S. Pushkin) in the picture - to the right behind the stranger.

Anichkov Palace, one of the imperial palaces of St. Petersburg, in Anichkova Bridge on the Embankment of the Fontanka River (Nevsky Prospekt, 39). Parade entrance (2012)
In the picture of a stranger from Pavilions Anichkova Palace

Then we consider the outfit unknown. It was described in detail by contemporaries: Francis hat, decorated with graceful light feathers, "Swedish" gloves, stitched from the finest skin, coat "Skobelaev", decorated with a sable fur and blue satin ribbons, coupling, a gold bracelet - all this fashionable details of a female costume 1880s, applying for expensive elegance.
Who will remember now, what could be the "Francis" hat and the "Skobelev" coat? And "Swedish" gloves why Swedish?

Yes, and most importantly: the greatest outfit did not mean then accessories to the highest light, rather, on the contrary, the Code of Unwritten Rules excluded strictly following fashion in the highest circles of Russian society. What? Can there be such a presence of the inhabitants of the current ruble, dining up to the latest frame of foreign fashion?
What is the conclusion? Only one thing - that the girl still did not belong to the Higher Society?
Contemporaries saw in the image a kind of vulgarity, that is, excessive sensuality, not knitted with the ideas about the secular lady.

Maybe as a comparison - female portrait of an aristocrat of Kramsky brush.

Portrait of Lady, 1881 Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts

All these parts are a thread to the rays of the mystery, but do not give a response.
The author did not reveal this mystery, nor in letters, nor in the diaries of Ivan Kramsky there is no mention of the identity of this woman.

And by the way, the artist Kramskaya himself, what person was he?

Kramskaya Ivan Nikolaevich (years of life - 1837-1887) is known as a talented portrait and historical painter. His hometown is Ostrogogsk Voronezh province. There, in the family of a small official and a little Vanya was born. Painting he was fond of childhood. With every opportunity, he took a pen in his hands or pencil and tried to sketch everything that saw around him. Very loved to read.
The 13-year-old Vanya has already begun its employment path. He worked and at first the scribe, and after and the retoucher at the familiar photographer, together with which they traveled almost the whole of Russia. In 1857, they arrived in St. Petersburg, where the future artist and decided to stay, having hired to work in the photographer A. I. Emera. In the same year, Ivan Kramskaya and realized his dream - he entered his studies at the Academy of Arts.

I.N. Kramskaya
So he was in 1882 at about writing "unknown"

In the time of study, the artist tried to unite all the active academic youth around him. And having finished learning, together with other graduates of the Academy, created the St. Petersburg Artel. It is said that the atmosphere of friendliness and mutual understanding that reigned there is completely his merit. When the St. Petersburg Artel slowly began to fall apart, he organized the unification of artistic mobile exhibitions - "Association of Mobile Art Exhibitions" - Mobile. In order, it is possible to say without exaggeration that Ivan Kramskaya was an outstanding figure in the cultural life of Russia 60-80. Started century

There is a version that the artist for this painting posed his daughter, Sophia Kramskaya.If you compare the "unknown" with the picture "Girl with a cat" - a portrait of a daughter, then the external similarity is really striking.

Portrait of the daughter "Girl with a cat" (1882, Kiev Museum of Russian Art)

About the tragic fate of the daughter of Ivan Kramsky Sophia
Portrait of an artist's daughter

But of course Sophia could be (and probably) only a model, and not the most heroine paintings.
Or maybe if the portrait of the "unknown" illustration of the literary heroine?

Who! Nastasya Philippovna Dostoevsky ("Idiot") or Anna Karenina Tolstoy? The container, daring to climb spiritually above its position of the fallen woman, or an aristocrat, descended from the height of his social status? The image is akin to both: it's visible freedom, independence, the pride of a woman of the coming time of change and at the same time there is something surprisingly simple, remaining in the nature of the Russian woman of the past.

A few years before the appearance of the "unknown", Anna Karenina L. Tolstoy was published, which gave a reason to some researchers to argue that Kramskaya portrayed the main character of the novel. Maybe the prototypes of Anna Carrenina will be close to the truth.
As you know, Anna Karenina repeated the tragic fate of Anna Stepanovna Pirogova, which unhappy love led to death, in 1872 (because of A. I. Bibikov)
From the memories of Sofia Andreevna, spouses L.N. Tolstoy:
She left the house with a nodule in his hand, returned to the nearest station of the ash, (near the clear glade), it rushed to the rails under the private train. L. N. Tolstoy traveled to the railway barracks to see the unfortunate.

In 1868, in the house of General A. A. Tulubyeva L. N. Tolstoy met Maria Alexandrovna Gardung, Pushkin's daughter. Anna Karenina Tolstoy gave some features of its appearance: dark hair, white lace and small literal garland of pansies.

Maria Alexandrovna Gardung

Most researchers are still inclined to think that the prototype is not literary, but quite real origin.

Supposedly the external resemblance made it say that the artist depicted beauty Matreus Savvishna - The peasant who has become the wife of the nobleman Bestumeva, with whom he was a sign of Kramskaya.

Many argue that the "unknown" is a collective image of a woman who could not serve as an example for imitation. Allegedly Kramskaya wrote a picture in order to generate moral mains of society - painted lips, fashionable dear clothes give out a rich content in a woman. Critic V. Stasov called this picture "Cockclock in a wheelchair", other critics wrote that Kramskaya depicted "expensive camellia", "one of the excessions of large cities".

The collection of Dr. Sushan Friedrich. Prague. Unknown. Etude 1883

Later in one of the private Czech collections, an etude was found to this picture. Woman on it looks arrogant and coarse, she looks at the passing. This gave reason to argue that the artist really put out the idea to create an accusatory portrait. However, in the final version of Kramskaya softened the features of the stranger, by indulging its appearance.
In the picture saw an accusatory meaning. However, in the face of heroine, it is not only not only in charge, but also sadness, covered drama.

To contain a mistress in the highest light of the capital of the Russian Empire of the XIX century was considered a good tone. But most often it was the beauties of the ballerina. Many great princes from the Romanov dynasty, not at all believing with legitimate wives, for many years almost openly had the second family. In the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich (Brother Alexander), the role of the second wife was performed by the famous ballerina Ekaterina Nizhlova. Born the prince of four children. Prince Konstantin Nikolayevich lived with Ballerina Anna Kuznetsova, who gave him five children. Wearing the surname of Romanovs, for obvious reasons, did not have the right. However, caring fathers left no offspring without their attention. All of them received noble dignity: The first family was title and the surname of Nikolaev; Second - Prince. Examples can be continued ...

The factory was the fact of the appearance of a lady without a name among other "their" portraits of the exhibition of the commember of the Movements: people with names - cultural and science figures; or "ideological" canvases with heroes - simple citizens-workers (peasants, merchants, students). And the exofed person of the audience of the exhibition for some reason immediately "recorded" in expensive curtain containers.
And even more, in the portrait showed the features of Catherine Dolgoruki of the powerful aristocrat - the favorite of Emperor Alexander II.
Therefore, they say, Kramskaya and kept the secret of the portrait.

Princess E.M. Dolgoruky

Emperor Alexander Stalel. He was already sixty. And his beloved Katenka and after the birth of children was in full brilliance of his beauty, in the last years of Alexander's life she lived in the Winter Palace, and her rest was right above the rooms of the wife Alexander II Maria Alexandrovna, the floor above. Dolgoruky wanted to reign in art, and not only in the heart of the sovereign. Therefore, the emperor decided to order her portrait one of the most popular artists of that time - Ivan Kramsky (he already wrote portraits of his children from the first marriage). Catherine wished to be depicted in a wheelchair riding in Nevsky. She wanted to look proud and independent against the backdrop of Anickovoy Palace, where heir to the heir to the throne Alexander Alexandrovich with his family lived.
Dolgoruky posed to the Kram urabs, and the artist was forced to invite other simulators. This introduces art historians to confusion: the portrait is written using sketches and sketches from different women. The work has stretched long. Kramskaya was looking for generalizations, and the portrait was distant from the original. And still depicted very similar to the preserved photos of the princess. Here is such a version ...

Varvara Ilyinichna Turkestanova

One of the most interesting versions belongs to the author of the book "The Fate of Beauty. History of Georgian wives "Igor Obolensky.
He argues that prototype Stranger became the princess barbarian Turkestanishvili (Turkestan) - Freilin Empress Mary Fedorovna, Favorite Alexander I, to whom she gave birth to daughter. After the birth of the daughter, the emperor lost interest in the mother, and to the child, and Barbara had finished with him after that. In the 1880s. Camelight with the portrait of the princess, which she once pretended the emperor, saw Kramskaya. He was amazed by the beauty and tragic death of Georgian and decided to write her portrait.

The princess of Varvara Ilinichna Turkestanova (1775-1819), Ferulin Empress Mary Fedorovna, Emperor's beloved by Emperor Alexander I, "Unknown" Kramsky.
(Necropolis of Alexander Nevsky Lavra)

However, all versions remain at the level of assumptions, and the "unknown" is a stranger, and
It is the "stranger", like the block.

Stranger

In the evenings above restaurants
Hot air dick and deaf
And ruled by drunk
Spring and tweeted spirit.

Away over the dust of the allest,
Above the boredom country cottage
Slightly golden Bulkoye pretzel,
And child crying is heard.

And every evening, behind the barriers,
Camelights,
Among the canvas are walking with the ladies
Tested steps.

Over the lake creaks sturdy
And a female squeal is heard,
And in the sky to all accustomed
Ensimlessly curved disk.

And every evening friend is the only one
In my glass is reflected
And moisture tart and mysterious
Like me, Smire and stunned.

And near the neighboring tables
Lakes sleepy sticking out,
And drinkers with the eyes of rabbits
"In Vino Veritas!" * Shout.

And every evening, an hour appointed
(Ile it only dreams to me?),
Devichy Still, grated silks,
In the foggy moves the window.

And slowly passing between drunk,
Always without satellites, one
Breathing in spirits and fogs
She sits down at the window.

And believe the ancient beliefs
Her elastic silk
And hat with mourning feathers,
And in the rings a narrow hand.

And strange proximity is shaken
I look at the dark veil,
And I see the coast of fascinated
And fascinated distance.

Deaf secrets are assigned to me,
Someone's sun is awarded to me
And all my souls are radiated
Pierced a tart wine.

And bars of ostrich tendered
In my brain swinging
And the eyes of blue bottomless
Flowers on the far shore.

In my soul lies treasure,
And the key is instructed only to me!
You're right, drunk monster!
I know: truth in fault.

http://klin-demianovo.ru/http:/klin-demianovo.ru/analitika/92464/russkaya-dzhokonda/
http://www.kulturologia.ru/blogs/220815/25927/
http://rodon.org/art-071104184243.
http://melanyja.livejournal.com/644092.html
http://www.stihi-rus.ru/1/blok/90.htm.

Original entries and comments on

One of the most prominent works of the Russian school of painting the second half of the XIX century is the painting "Stranger". Kramskaya wrote it in 1883. For the first time, the Painting was represented by the public in the same year at the exhibition of Mobile in St. Petersburg. The original name is "unknown". After the audience saw her, many rumors appeared immediately. Who is the laryrship, which Ivan Kramskaya portrayed in the picture? The exact answer to this question could not be obtained until today. The study of the diaries and personal correspondence of the artist also could not clarify the situation: Kramskaya never mentioned the personality of a woman who became the main character of His most famous work.

Searches for the prototype of an unknown girl

There are several versions of whether the image says the picture "Stranger". Description of the appearance of the Kursk beauty of the peasant Matters Savvishna, who became the wife of the nobleman Bestumev, most of all approaches the heroine of the canvas. Some Kramsky's creativity researchers believed that the model posing to him when writing a picture was his daughter Sofia. Some art historians adhered to the opinions that Anna Karenina is the prototype of the girl from the canvas, others attributed to her the resemblance to Nastasya Filippe Barashkova - the heroine of Roman Dostoevsky "Idiot". At the beginning of the 20th century, the young lady from the picture began to be associated with a delicate and mysterious block "stranger".

Critic scores

Many contemporaries of Kramsky believed that the painting "Stranger" was written in order to generate moral mains of society, which could not serve as an example for imitation. Art critic V. Stasov called the beauty on the canvas "Cockfather in the wheelchair." According to N. Murashko, "Dear Camellia" was depicted on the canvas, that is, a woman of easy behavior. Describing the "stranger", critic P. Kovalevsky called it "one of the excessions of large cities."

Description of the Baryshni.
What is the picture "Stranger"? Kramskaya portrayed her a beautiful young woman passing in an open stroller on an anichkov bridge. The lady, reigningly looking against the background of snow-covered St. Petersburg, dressed is expensive and fashionable. All details of the elegant wardrobe Stranger The artist prescribes with special care. A luxurious coat with blue satin ribbons, confused by sobular furs, a hat with feathers, gloves from the finest leather, a gold bracelet - all this gives a secured woman in it.

View of the beauty, framed by fluffy eyelashes, apparently, slid contempt for others. But at the same time, in her eyes, you can read the uncertainty inherent in all people depending on the world in which they live. Despite the dismissive attitude, the girl is very beautiful, graceful, she attracts enthusiastic views. The unknown young lady clearly did not belong to the highest light. The manner is dressed in the last fashion, as well as painted lips and abundantly gritted eyebrows indicate that it is most likely to be the content of any noble lord.

Czech Nakhodka

Approximately 60 years after writing a "stranger" in one of the private Czech collections, an etude was accidentally detected to this picture. On him the young lady dressed in a dark closed dress, her hair is collected in a high hairstyle. The woman depicted on the etude is amazingly similar to the "stranger", but in her glance, contempt for others is also visible. Kramskaya portrayed the beauty of the impudent and self-satisfied, giving the expression of her face some caricature. Etude shows that the master has long trimmed the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating an accusatory portrait, ridiculeling flavors of society.

Rumors about the curse of the picture

Not only the mysteriousness of the image of the main character attracts lovers of art's painting "Stranger". The artist created a truly mystical work, because for decades it attracted troubles and failures to its owners.
Having written a canvas, Kramskaya offered Tretyakov to buy it for his gallery, but he refused, being confident that portraits of beautiful women are able to pull out strength from a living person. The "stranger" found a shelter in private collections first in Russia, then abroad, but she brought misfortune to all its owners. The curse hung over Kramsky himself: a few months later, after the picture saw the light, he had 2 sons one after another.

After long journeys in 1925, the mysterious "stranger" returned to Russia and still took his place in the Tretyakov Gallery, where it is still located. Since then, she has ceased to bring unhappiness around. Kramsky's fans are confident that if the canvas originally hit the Tretyakov collection, then there would be no bad glory behind him, because it was there it should have been from the very beginning.

The picturesque etude to the painting "Unknown", which is stored in Prague, in the private assembly (1883).

This is perhaps the most famous work of Kramsky, the most intriguing, which remains incomprehensible to this day and unsolved. By calling his picture "Unknown", smart Kramskaya secured forever over her halo of mystery. Contemporaries literally lost in guesses. Its image caused anxiety and anxiety, a vague premonition of depressing and dubious new - the appearance of a woman's type, which did not fit into the previous system of values. "Unknown: who is this lady, decent or coherent, but a whole era sits in it," they stated some. Stasovas loudly called the heroine of Kramsky "Cockfather in a wheelchair." Tretyakov also admitted Stasov that the "previous works" of Kramsky, he likes more than the latter. There were critics that joined this image with Anna Karenina Lion Tolstoy, who came down from the height of their social status, with Nastasya Filippovna Fedor Dostoevsky, rising above the position of the fallen woman, were also called the names of the ladies of light and sewers. By the beginning of the 20th century, the scandalousness of the image was gradually overlapped by a romantic-mysterious Aura of the Bloque Kovskaya "Stranger". In the Soviet times, the "unknown" Kramsky became the embodiment of aristocracy and secular sophistication, almost the Russian Sycstine Madonna - the ideal of unearthly beauty and spirituality.

In a private assembly in Prague, a picturesque etude is kept in Prague, who persuars that Kramskaya was looking for an artistic image ambiguity. Etude is much simpler and sharper, applooked and definitely pictures. It sesters the audacity and authority of the woman, the feeling of devastation and the validity, which is not available in the final version. In the picture "Unknown", Kramskaya is passionate about the sensual, almost teasing beauty of his heroine, her tender dark skin, her velvet eyelashes, slightly arrogant Karich's surname, her majestic posture. As if the Tsarina she rises above the misty white cold city, driving in an open carriage according to Anichkovo Bridge. Her outfit - Francis hat, decorated with graceful light feathers, "Swedish" gloves, stitched from the finest skin, "Skobelev" coat, decorated with sable fur and blue satin ribbons, coupling, a gold bracelet - all this fashionable details of the female costume 1880s GG, applying for expensive elegance. However, this did not mean belonging to the highest light; Rather, on the contrary, the Code of Unwritten Rules excluded strictly following fashion in the highest circles of Russian society.

Exquisite sensual beauty, majesty and grace of "unknown", some alienation and arrogance cannot hide the feeling of insecurity in the face of the world to which it belongs and from which it depends. Kramskaya's picture raises the question of the fate of beauty in imperfect vality.

The appearance at the 11th exhibition TPHV of this picture of Kramsky, in which we are accustomed to see the embodied image of the feminine, accompanied by an almost scandal. Passed oil into the fire and the author himself, calling it this way - "Unknown" (in the "household" consciousness, another name was stuck - "Stranger"). He seemed to be fed a riddle, which the audience began to solve with the country. In the end, the majority came out that Kramskaya depicted in his work "Laman Polusveta", but if we talk clearly, rich in the present. V. Stasov came up with a whiskers - "Cockclock in a wheelchair". And no matter how much the Adepts of "High Watery-STI", Stas, seemed to guess the Kramsky's riddle. The thing is,

what later became known for the picture to the picture, and on it, the character-nai vulgarity of the model leaves no doubt what she is engaged in life. But is it important now! The established in-torrents of works of art often do not have a bit in common with the copyright. Something similar happened with the "unknown". The Russian commitment to the% literary alluzies did first by Nastasya Filippe from the "Idi-Ot" of Dostoevsky, then - Anna Karenina, then - the block-skoy stranger, and then at all - the embodiment of female-st. It is curious that P. Tretyakov did not want to buy this work. In the Tretyakov Meeting, it appeared only in 1925 go-du-as a result of the nationalization of private collections.

Painting details

The heroine is dressed in the last fashion (season of 1883) - so they argue experts on the history of the costume.

The pink frosty haze is written so virtuoso, which seems to appear the feeling of the cold. Kramskoy knew how to write light air when he wanted it.

The place of action is no doubt - this is Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg. The famous buildings are discharged Kramski, on the one hand, quite sketchously, and on the other, it is quite recognizable.