Princess Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna: biography of the patron, photo

The Russian noblewoman Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna, whose biography will be described in this article, had a maiden name Pyatkovskaya. She was a prominent public figure, teacher and patron of art. She is also known as a creative nature, an enamel artist and a collector of art objects. Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna founded the Petersburg art studio, the Museum of Russian antiquity in the city of Smolensk, the Drawing School (also in St. Petersburg), the Bezhitsky craft school, as well as the art and industrial workshops in the Talashkino estate that belonged to her.

Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna: short biography

Of course, the narrative about the life of a person begins with the exact date of his birth. Unfortunately, in the history there was no information about which year the future talented artist was born, since she was illegitimate, though the capital's noblewoman. No one today knows what name is her own father. After the marriage, she took her husband's surname and began to be called Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna. Her date of birth is April 20, but the year is indicated approximately, between 1865-1867. By the way, there are suggestions that her father could have been the emperor Alexander II of Russia himself. Apparently, it is because of this that the history of her birth is so shrouded in secrecy.

Unhappy childhood

Her mother Maria Aleksandrovna married Klavdia Stefanovich Pyatkovskii and wore his name. The second stepfather of the little Masha was MP von Dizen - a very wealthy man who owned several houses in both St. Petersburg and Moscow. Mother did not treat her daughter with tenderness and care, and the girl always had to be on guard so as not to incur her displeasure, as a result of which severe punishment and even beating could follow. The girl grew light and withdrawn, it could be touched with one glance only. In addition, she held a long insult in herself and could not forgive. At the same time, she was very strong and strong-willed, independent and active. She dreamed of another life, the opposite of the one she had in the stepfather's house.

Education

Until 1869, the future Princess Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva studied at home under the vigilant supervision of the French-tutor. However, having learned about the newly opened first in Russia women's gymnasium, where girls' training in the program of men's schools was practiced, she decided to pass the exams and entered. The founder of the gymnasium was M. Speshneva. Studying young Masha was easy, and she soon became one of the first pupils of this school.

First marriage

In 1876, Maria married. Her husband became a lawyer RN Nikolaev. A year later she had a daughter, Maria Rafailovna - the future Baroness von der Osten-Saken. However, this marriage was short-lived and soon disintegrated. Afterwards in her autobiographical book "Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna: impressions of my life" she wrote that the reason for the divorce was the incompatibility of their natures with her husband.

Paris

When the baby was 4 years old, Maria Klavdievna left the house, taking her daughter with her. She went to Paris, where she began to practice vocal at the music school of M. Marchesi. And at this time Masha was courted by the faithful servant Lisa, who will stay with them until the end of her life. Soon Paris for Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva becomes very hometown, here she feels like a fish in the water. Here it is all close and understandable. She leads a social life, meets with creative people. In music school she meets A. Rubinstein, Charles Gounod. Her circle of acquaintances is growing every day. Among her friends is also Ivan Turgenev. The artist K. Makovsky is also glad that Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva took him to the circle of her friends. He writes his portrait under the first impression that she had on him.

The first meeting with Talashkino

After two years living in the French capital, the future princess returns to Russia and goes to the estate to her childhood friend Kitty. She likes Talashkina very much, despite the fact that there is nothing remarkable about it. She likes native nature, hills, copses and fields. After a little rest, she and her friend again go to Paris, because she needs to finish her studies at the vocal school. In the French capital, they begin to independently engage in the history of art, visit various museums, galleries, etc. In the Louvre, Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna gets acquainted with the artist Gilbert and begins taking drawing lessons from him. It was during this period that she began to get involved in enamels.

Beginning of social activities

In 1887, once again visiting Talashkino, her friends opened a school for peasant children. They decided not only to teach them to read and write, but also to join the crafts and give them the opportunity to succeed in life. Tenisheva was a real patriot, and she really wanted to somehow contribute to the prosperity of her country. Perhaps it was in her that the blood of her crowned father spoke?

Finding Yourself

A year later, Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva got acquainted with Konstantin Stanislavsky. She decides to try herself and in the theatrical field. Being gifted by nature, she begins to make progress, and the great director gives her the opportunity to prove herself as an actress in the theatrical production "Baloven" on the stage of the Paradise Theater. However, fine arts take precedence, and she continues her studies in watercolor from N. Golitsinsky, and then goes to the school of Baron Stieglitz in the drawing class. Rotating in creative circles, she meets a young artist I.E. Repin, and then with Alexander Benois, with whom she was brought by the brother of the artist Albert.

The Second Marriage

In 1892 she remarried and now goes to the high world as Princess Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva. Maecenas, an entrepreneur, a scientist and just a big soul man, Vyacheslav Nikolaevich supports all the beginnings of his wife. Soon he founded the famous Tenishev School in St. Petersburg. Marriage with a man of such a high flight gave her many advantages and opened up such opportunities, of which she did not dream. However, it uses them not for personal prosperity, but for the benefit of the development of Russian art. This indicates that Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva is a philanthropist in the most direct sense of the word.

Life in Bezhitsa

Her husband owned the Bryansk rail-rolling plant, which he was in Bezhitsa. Arriving here, on her estate, Maria Klavdievna begins to engage in educational activities. Of course, her husband helped her a lot. Without its capital, it would not have been possible to make a grain of it. In addition, he was very wise, respected in the scientific community, a person, and she was very helpful advice. V.N. Tenishev received international recognition as a sociologist and ethnographer, the author of valuable scientific works. However, in Russia he was under the secret supervision of the authorities, who were alarmed by his freedom-loving views, as well as disagreement with the state's policy, with which he from time to time shared in narrow progressive circles. And at that time his wife, who did not understand anything in politics, felt that she needed to develop the talents of people who could not afford to come forward and declare themselves to the world. In her house poor painters, artists and singers, in a word, people of art, gathered all the time. However, all this irritated the prince, he hated the manifestation of "bohemianism," he did not like antiques, and he did not understand how one could spend money on the acquisition of art objects for his personal collection. However, there was something that united these two different people - love of music and enlightenment. Tenishev perfectly played the cello and was friends with many famous musicians.

Getting to know Tchaikovsky

In 1892, thanks to Vyacheslav Konstantinovich, Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna got acquainted with the great Tchaikovsky. Once in their house on the Promenade des Anglais in Saint Petersburg, the princely couple arranged an evening in honor of the composer, and the princess herself decided to sing Tchaikovsky's romances specially for him. The great musician was delighted with her singing and rushed to accompany her. The evening was surprisingly good, and the composer did not want to leave, he even missed the opera at the rehearsal of "Iolanta".

Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna: Talashkino, the Transfiguration

Ekaterina Svyatopolk-Chetvertinskaya was the owner of this estate. She gladly agreed to sell it to her husband, his friend, Prince Tenishev, and he, in turn, made his wife a royal gift for the name-day. At the same time Kitty received permission for life annuity and stayed on the estate. From this day Talashkino is transformed beyond recognition. Here an active woman bases oil-production, for which he brings high-quality equipment from abroad. This time the princess proves to herself and others that it can be not only bohemian, creative and romantic, but also a great businessman. All products from the factory are imported into both Russian capitals - Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as to Paris. Throughout the estate begins a grandiose construction. Large greenhouses, a steam mill, animal cages, various workshops are being built, including for the repair of agricultural machinery. Arriving at work in Talashkino workers begin to build their own housing. Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna spent all her time in the estate, she brought a car from Paris and drove around it in her possessions. Then here from Khotylev the equestrian court consisting of 50 horses is translated. For horses, running water with hot water. Horse breeders are invited from England. Later, near the stud farm, a horse riding arena is being built.

Expansion of the domain

Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna, whose family only rarely meets in Talashkino, has found a new occupation for herself. She began to buy up nearby villages and farms. She founded schools, built hostels. Soon the whole district began to talk about the school in Flenovo. From time to time she visited Petersburg. Here in their own house she founded a drawing school. Young talented children came here to study at the Academy of Arts. Among the students were M. Dobuzhinsky, I. Ya. Bilibin, ZE Serebryakova, S. V. Chekhonin, Repin's son Yuri, A. Pogosskaya, M. Chambers-Bilibin, etc. The school is directed by Ilya Repin at the request of the princess.

Dedications

Artistic friends, whom she had patronized at the beginning of her career and with whom her friendship was beginning, began to devote her works. So, the composer A. S. Arensky wrote notes for the romance "Lily of the Valley", and the words to them were composed by P. I. Tchaikovsky. The artist Alexander Benois offers the princess her services in the systematization of Tenishev's collection of drawings and watercolors. He also draws many paintings with views of the Talashka estate. The year 1896 was special for the Tenishev family. At the All-Russian Exhibition were presented Bryansk Plant and Bezhitskaya craft school, owned by the prince and the princess. They were awarded the highest royal gratitude.

And again, Paris

If Maria Klavdievna did not love Russia, nevertheless Paris was exactly the city where she felt most comfortable. And after a long break she again finds herself in her beloved city. Here again she is drawn to study and she goes to the Academy of Julien. In the class of B. Constant she continues her studies in painting and drawing. Here she meets L. Bakst, who is in distress, and helps him. In addition, she buys most of the graphic works of the artist. Meanwhile, revolutionary riots are ripening in Russia, and her drawing school is beginning to be suspected of organizing various gatherings. Because of this, between her and the school principal, Repin, a conflict is obtained, but Repin, not wanting to lose school, solves this problem with the authorities. In the same year, another drawing school was opened in Smolensk. The premise for the creative workshop is the house of EK. Svyatopolk-Chetvertinskaya, and the head appointed one of the students I. Repin A. Kurennoy.

Collections and exhibitions

In 1897 in St. Petersburg an exhibition was opened where watercolors and drawings from the collection of Maria Tenisheva were exhibited at the court of visitors. About the exhibition speaks all the Petersburg beau monde. And Tretyakov himself reveres it with his attention. He offers the princess to redeem several pictures, but she refuses to him, explaining her refusal to unwillingness to lose the integrity of the collection. By the way, in the end she offers her collection to the Russian Museum, which was due to open soon. But they say that they can only take pictures of Russian artists. At the same time, Prince V. N. Tenishev receives a government appointment as a general commissioner and head of the Russian department at the World Exhibition in Paris. And his wife, together with the patron and head of the St. Petersburg ballet troupe Sergei Diaghilev - in Finland, to organize a joint art exhibition.

Magazine "World of Art"

At the very beginning of the 20th century, Maria Tenisheva and Sergei Mamontov create a new cultural magazine - "World of Arts". It is to this period that the portrait of the princess, written by Serov, is kept and is kept in the Smolensk Museum. In the course of work on the magazine, she meets an outstanding photographer of his time I. Borshchevsky. And they begin to travel through ancient Russian cities and take pictures of local attractions for the magazine.

Enamel art

Some time after the creation of the magazine, she returns to her ancient passion - enamel art and establishes a special art school in Smolensk. Masters who participate in it begin to decorate a church built with the money of the Tenishev family. A brick factory was also built for this purpose.

Further activities

Over the next few years, Tenisheva had done so much for the development of Russian culture, that everything can not be counted. There were exhibitions, museums, concerts, and much more. In Moscow, the "Rodnik" store was established, where the products manufactured in the Talashkin workshops were sold. Tenisheva's house in Talashkino is always full of celebrities. Here even Sergei Diaghilev himself comes . Due to the revolution of 1905, the Talashkin workshops are closed, the princess ceases to finance the magazine "World of Arts", and it too is closed. Maria Klavdievna, having taken her precious collection, goes to Paris and organizes an exhibition there. Living in the French capital, she continues to practice enamel art. In 1907, after returning to Russia, she learns that she was awarded the title of honorary citizen of Smolensk. In 1912, the Tenishev Museum was honored by his visit to the Emperor of All Russia Nikolay II.

First World

In 1914, with the outbreak of war, a military hospital was opened in Smolensk. Maria Klavdievna can not remain indifferent and herself works in it, and her car serves to transport the wounded. Nikolay II comes to the infirmary to greet and reward the army. The Emperor highly appreciated the patriotism of the princess and thanked her for her service to her homeland. In the years 1915-1916. Tenisheva is working on her dissertation and defending her. The October Revolution is approaching. Cultural life in the country freezes, and Tenisheva is experiencing a severe depression. Then there was October, and she and a group of close friends had to flee to the south of the country, from where she crossed to France, where she lived until 1928.

Epilogue

Many of the famous people of art began to come to her cozy house. It was during this period that she began to work on her book, which was mentioned at the beginning of this article. Princess Tenisheva died in 1928 in a foreign land, but in her beloved city. She did not see her beloved Mother Russia that much. Her Parisian house was called the small Talashkin.