Boyarynya Morozova is a legendary person. The story of the life of Boyarina Morozova

Boyarina Morozova is one of the well-known Russian personalities who left a mark in the history of their state. This woman became the embodiment of fearlessness and obstinacy, this is a real fighter for his principles and ideals. The attitude to the boyaryn is ambiguous, for some she is an ordinary fanatic, ready to go to her death, if only she does not give up her own convictions; in others she respects her steadfastness and faithfulness to the accepted faith. Anyway, it's a legendary person, and thanks to Surikov's picture, more than one generation will be remembered about the history of Morozov.

The Origin of Boyarina Morozova

Feodosiya Prokopievna was born May 21, 1632 in Moscow, her father - Sokovnin Prokopy Fedorovich - was okolnichym, was in kinship with the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, Maria Ilinichnaya. The future boyarynya was one of the courtiers who accompanied the queen. At the age of seventeen, Theodosius married Morozov Gleb Ivanovich. The husband was a representative of a noble family, was related to the family of the Romanovs, near Moscow had a luxurious estate Zyuzino, he was an uncle prince and served as a royal sleeping bag. Gleb's brother, Boris Ivanovich, was very rich. He died in 1662, and since he never got his offspring, everything passed on to the next of kin.

The Wealth and Influence of Boyaryn

After the death of Gleb Ivanovich, the condition of both brothers passes to the young Ivan Glebovich, the son of Gleb and Theodosia, and his mother becomes the actual administrator of wealth. The story of the life of Boyarina Morozova is very interesting, because this woman had her own views on life. Feodosia Prokopievna occupied the place of the upper boyaryni, she had great influence, she was close to the tsar. Her wealth could only be envied: the boyaryn had several estates, but she settled in the village of Zyuzino, where she set up her house on a western model. At that time it was the most luxurious manor.

Boyarina Morozova disposed of eight (!) Thousands of serfs, only about 300 servants lived in her house. Feodosia had a chic carriage decorated with silver and mosaic, she often made walks, harnessing six or even twelve horses with clattering chains into her carriage. During the trips the boyaryn was accompanied by about 100 slaves and slaves, guarding her from attacks. For those times Morozova was considered almost the richest man in Moscow.

Proponent of the Old Believer Faith

Boyarinya Morozova was an ardent supporter of the old faith. She always favored the poor and holy fools, she gave them alms. In addition, in her house the followers of the Old Believers often gathered to pray on the Old Russian canons of the Old Believer icons. The woman closely communicated with the archpriest Avvakum, the apologist of the old faith, did not perceive the reforms of Patriarch Nikon.

She wore a hair shirt, so in this way "pacify the flesh." But still Habakkuk was displeased with Morozova, urged her to put out her eyes, as did Mastridia, to protect herself from love temptations. Also, the archpriest rebuked the noblewoman in minor charities, because in her condition she could have benefited a much larger number of those in need. In addition, Feodosia, although faithful to the old faith, attended the church of the new rite, which caused her distrust on the part of the Old Believers.

Disobedience to the Frosty

The king knew about the beliefs of the upper boyaryni, and he did not like this behavior at all. Feodosia avoided church and secular events in every possible way, she did not even attend the wedding of Alexei Mikhailovich, saying that she was very ill. The Tsar tried in every possible way to influence the obstinate noblewoman, sent her relatives to her, so that they would impress the woman and persuade them to accept a new faith, but everything was in vain: Morozova stood on her ground. Few knew the name of the boyar Morozov after the tonsure with the Old Believers. The woman secretly accepted it and received a new name - Theodora, proving to her entourage that she remained faithful to the old faith.

Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna long held back the wrath of the Tsar, and the high position of the noblewoman did not allow her to punish her so simply, but Alexei Mikhailovich's patience was coming to an end. In the evening of November 16, 1671, Archimandrite Joachim came to Morozova with the Duma deacon Illarion. In the house was the sister of the boyaryn Princess Urusova. To show their disrespectful attitude to the guests, Theodosius and Evdokia went to bed and lay down answering the questions of those who came. After the interrogation, the women were shackled, leaving under house arrest. Two days later Morozov was transported first to Chudov, and then to the Pskov-Caves Monastery.

After imprisonment of the boyars, her only son Ivan died, two brothers were exiled, and all property was transferred to the tsarist treasury. Morozov was carefully guarded, but still she received clothes and food from sympathizers of her people, the archpriest Avvakum wrote her letters, and one of the priests of the old faith was partaken of by an unhappy woman.

The Punishment of the Tsar

Boyarynya Morozova, Princess Urusova and Maria Danilova (the wife of the Streltsy colonel) were transferred to the Yamskaya Yard at the end of 1674. Torturing women tried to convince them to accept a new faith and give up their beliefs, but they were unshakable. They were about to be burned at the stake, but this sacrilege was prevented by Tsarevna Irina Mikhailovna, the king's sister and intercessor boyars. Alexei Mikhailovich ordered the sisters Evdokia and Theodosius to be sent to the Pafnutyevo-Borovsk monastery and imprisoned in an earthen prison.

The demise of the boyars

In June 1675, 14 servants of the boyars, who supported the old faith, were burned in the wood. On September 11, 1675, Princess Urusova died of hunger, Morozova also foresaw her imminent demise. Shortly before her death, she asked the guards to wash the shirt in the river to die in clean clothes. From total exhaustion, Theodosius died on November 2, 1675.

Theme of the picture Surikov

In 1887, after the 15th traveling exhibition for the Tretyakov Gallery, for 25 thousand rubles, the work of the brilliant painter Boyaryna Morozova was bought. Surikov's painting is a canvas measuring 304х587.5 cm, it was painted with oil. To date, this is one of the largest exhibits of the gallery. Picture From afar attracts the attention of spectators, fascinates with the brightness of colors, the living force of images and spatiality. Vasily Ivanovich took as a basis the theme of the 17th century church schism . The painter wanted to show the hard life and deep faith of the Russian people. He managed to convey the whole tragedy of the situation: the main character is humiliated, trampled, but not broken; Morozov is doomed to death, but nevertheless appears in a victorious image.

Surikov's interest in the fate of Boyaryn

Biography of the boyar Morozova interested Vasily Ivanovich for the reason that he himself came from Siberia, and after all this region was famous for the huge number of Old Believers. Siberians positively treated the old faith, therefore in this region handwritten "lives" that belonged to the Old Believer martyrs who suffered from the hands of representatives of the new faith were widely disseminated. According to some information, the godmother introduced Surikova to the "The Story of Boyaryna Morozova". Apparently, the artist was impressed by the will of the nobility, therefore decided to revive the memory of her, depicting on a huge canvas an episode where Morozov is taken to prison.

Images of the main characters of the picture

When looking at the canvas, the central character, Boyarina Morozova, first of all throws herself into the eyes. The description of the picture shows that the artist was determined for a long time with portrait sketches, he painted them separately, and then collected them together. Protopop Avvakum described Feodosia as a thin woman with a running lightning glance, and Surikov long could not find such a face - fanatical, bloodless, exhausted, but proud and unyielding. In the end, he copied Morozov from the Old Believers, who met Vasily Ivanovich near the Rogozhsky cemetery.

The Moscow poor man, who sells cucumbers, became a prototype of the holy fool, but the image of the wanderer is the author himself. "Boyarina Morozova" is a picture full of "color symphonies". Surikov attached great importance to shades, made them seem natural. The artist watched the snow for a long time, catching all its overflows, watched the cold air affect the complexion. That's why his characters seem alive. To give the picture a sense of movement, Surikov drew the running boy to the sled.

Assessment of the artist's work

The history of the painting "Boyarina Morozova" is very unusual, if only because this work provoked conflicting assessments and loud criticism during the traveling exhibition. Some people like Surikov's work, some do not, but everyone agreed that this work was a success for him. Some critics compared the canvas to the colorful Persian carpet, because bright colors and ripples in the eyes, academics discussed various flaws in the picture, such as wrong hand positions, etc. But still, the most famous and inexorable critics in a detailed study of the drawing were to Recognize - this is really a masterpiece.

Before Vasily Surikov none of the painters so vividly and impartially did not depict people of the pre-Petrine era. In the center of the canvas - a woman, pale and exhausted by spiritual pain, starving from a long fast, around her there were clumsy, rude people in fur coats, ruffles, and telology. The crowd divided into two parts, one sympathizes with the boyars, the other - scoffs at her misfortune. Surikov managed to revive their characters. The viewer, standing near the canvas, feels in this crowd and as it were transferred in time to several centuries ago.

Vasily Ivanovich realistically portrayed the event that took place in the history of Russia. His work prompted people not only to learn about the fate of Boyarina Morozova, but also to think about her deed. Someone perceives it as a fanatic, someone admires its unyielding and faithfulness to principles. During the appearance of the picture, people compared the heroine to the Narodniks and Stenka Razin. This only says that "boyars of Morozov" is in every era, there will always be people who are true to their convictions.