Natasha's Dance (166 page)
By this time, indeed, there was a group of fabulously wealthy merchant dynasties, many f
By this time, indeed, there was a group of fabulously wealthy merchant dynasties, many f
89
Despite the old mistrust between the classes, many of these magnates felt a strong desire f
Despite the old mistrust between the classes, many of these magnates felt a strong desire f
Despite the old mistrust between the classes, many of these magnates felt a strong desire f
enough to become accepted in society, even if the old snobbish attitudes prevailed, Rus
enough to become accepted in society, even if the old snobbish attitudes prevailed, Rus
enough to become accepted in society, even if the old snobbish attitudes prevailed, Rus
90
91
These principles were nowhere more in evidence than in the life and work of Pavel Tretia
These principles were nowhere more in evidence than in the life and work of Pavel Tretia
These principles were nowhere more in evidence than in the life and work of Pavel Tretia
realized that he lacked the expertise to judge their provenance, so, to avoid the risk of
realized that he lacked the expertise to judge their provenance, so, to avoid the risk of
realized that he lacked the expertise to judge their provenance, so, to avoid the risk of
kuchkists
92
The Rooks Have Returned
veduta
Tretiakov in business, the Wanderers in art - each sought to break free from the bureaucra
Tretiakov in business, the Wanderers in art - each sought to break free from the bureaucra
Tretiakov in business, the Wanderers in art - each sought to break free from the bureaucra
Peredvizhniki)
*The word Peredvizhniki came from the Tovarishchestvo peredvizhnykb khu-dozhestven
*The word Peredvizhniki came from the Tovarishchestvo peredvizhnykb khu-dozhestven
*The word Peredvizhniki came from the Tovarishchestvo peredvizhnykb khu-dozhestven
Peredvizhniki
Tovarishchestvo peredvizhnykb khu-dozhestvennykh vystavok
taught in country schools or set up their own art schools and museums, usually with the sup
taught in country schools or set up their own art schools and museums, usually with the sup
taught in country schools or set up their own art schools and museums, usually with the sup
zemstvos)
93
7
7
7
7
7
Another merchant patron who helped to define the Moscow style in the late nineteenth and e
Another merchant patron who helped to define the Moscow style in the late nineteenth and e
Another merchant patron who helped to define the Moscow style in the late nineteenth and e
94
Mamontov was not just a patron of the arts but an artistic figure in his own right. He studie
Mamontov was not just a patron of the arts but an artistic figure in his own right. He studie
Mamontov was not just a patron of the arts but an artistic figure in his own right. He studie
The Storm,
95
forests near Sergiev Posad, sixty kilometres north-east of Moscow, where they set up an ar
forests near Sergiev Posad, sixty kilometres north-east of Moscow, where they set up an ar
forests near Sergiev Posad, sixty kilometres north-east of Moscow, where they set up an ar
Abramtsevo was located in the heartland of historic Muscovy. It had previously belonged
Abramtsevo was located in the heartland of historic Muscovy. It had previously belonged
Abramtsevo was located in the heartland of historic Muscovy. It had previously belonged
zemstvo
objets d’art
The Cherry Orchard).
zemstvo
In my father’s study in front of the writing table stood an armchair whose back was the shaft
In my father’s study in front of the writing table stood an armchair whose back was the shaft
In my father’s study in front of the writing table stood an armchair whose back was the shaft
seat was a knout whip and a pair of bast shoes carved in oak. The finishing touch was a real
seat was a knout whip and a pair of bast shoes carved in oak. The finishing touch was a real
seat was a knout whip and a pair of bast shoes carved in oak. The finishing touch was a real
96
Chekhov liked to poke fun at this ‘folksy’ craze. In his story ‘The Grasshopper’ (1891) Olga i
Chekhov liked to poke fun at this ‘folksy’ craze. In his story ‘The Grasshopper’ (1891) Olga i
Chekhov liked to poke fun at this ‘folksy’ craze. In his story ‘The Grasshopper’ (1891) Olga i
lubok
voila
97
From these arts and crafts, Moscow’s artists developed what they called the ‘style moderne‘
From these arts and crafts, Moscow’s artists developed what they called the ‘style moderne‘
From these arts and crafts, Moscow’s artists developed what they called the ‘style moderne‘
style moderne
style moderne
The fashion for old Moscow was also cultivated by the silversmiths and jewellery shops tha
The fashion for old Moscow was also cultivated by the silversmiths and jewellery shops tha
The fashion for old Moscow was also cultivated by the silversmiths and jewellery shops tha
samovars,
kovshi
* There are several similar examples of the armchair in the History Museum of Moscow. Al
* There are several similar examples of the armchair in the History Museum of Moscow. Al
* There are several similar examples of the armchair in the History Museum of Moscow. Al
*
workshops made gems in the classical and rococo styles. But only Tsars and Grand Dukes could
workshops made gems in the classical and rococo styles. But only Tsars and Grand Dukes could
workshops made gems in the classical and rococo styles. But only Tsars and Grand Dukes could
style moderne,
Nicholas II was a major patron of Vashkov and the Moscow workshop of Faberge.98 Vashkov de
Nicholas II was a major patron of Vashkov and the Moscow workshop of Faberge.98 Vashkov de
Nicholas II was a major patron of Vashkov and the Moscow workshop of Faberge.98 Vashkov de
98
kokoshnik
Like the church, the Muscovite renaissance in the arts conjured up a land of fairy tales.
Like the church, the Muscovite renaissance in the arts conjured up a land of fairy tales.
Like the church, the Muscovite renaissance in the arts conjured up a land of fairy tales.
trend in the final decades of the nineteenth century, when the increased censorship of Al
trend in the final decades of the nineteenth century, when the increased censorship of Al
trend in the final decades of the nineteenth century, when the increased censorship of Al
99
100
101
Vasnetsov and Vrubel brought this land of fairy tales to their colourful designs for Mamon
Vasnetsov and Vrubel brought this land of fairy tales to their colourful designs for Mamon
Vasnetsov and Vrubel brought this land of fairy tales to their colourful designs for Mamon
102
of the folk-inspired ‘Russian style’. Wagner’s idea of the total work of art, the Gesamtkun
of the folk-inspired ‘Russian style’. Wagner’s idea of the total work of art, the Gesamtkun
of the folk-inspired ‘Russian style’. Wagner’s idea of the total work of art, the Gesamtkun
Gesamtkunstwerk,
Ring
103
Snow Maiden,
Maid of Pskov,
Sadko
104
kuchkist
Sadko and May Night (with the 24-year-old Rachmaninov conducting) in 1897, The Tsar’s Bride i
Sadko and May Night (with the 24-year-old Rachmaninov conducting) in 1897, The Tsar’s Bride i
Sadko and May Night (with the 24-year-old Rachmaninov conducting) in 1897, The Tsar’s Bride i
Sadko
May Night
The Tsar’s Bride
Kashchei the Immortal
World of Art.
105
8
8
8
8
8
Private theatrical undertakings were something of a Moscow fashion following the lift
Private theatrical undertakings were something of a Moscow fashion following the lift
Private theatrical undertakings were something of a Moscow fashion following the lift
Wood Demon
mercantile world. Stanislavsky’s father slept (with his grandfather) in the same bed.106 As a
mercantile world. Stanislavsky’s father slept (with his grandfather) in the same bed.106 As a
mercantile world. Stanislavsky’s father slept (with his grandfather) in the same bed.106 As a
106
107
Black Snow (1939-
Stanislavsky’s vision of an independent theatre brought him together with the playwright
Stanislavsky’s vision of an independent theatre brought him together with the playwright
Stanislavsky’s vision of an independent theatre brought him together with the playwright
108
Tsar Fedor
The Seagull
Nemirovich was a great admirer of Chekhov’s play. In St Petersburg it had been a dreadful f
Nemirovich was a great admirer of Chekhov’s play. In St Petersburg it had been a dreadful f
Nemirovich was a great admirer of Chekhov’s play. In St Petersburg it had been a dreadful f
”real”, not theatrical.’ People felt ‘almost embarrassed to be present’, as if they were e
”real”, not theatrical.’ People felt ‘almost embarrassed to be present’, as if they were e
”real”, not theatrical.’ People felt ‘almost embarrassed to be present’, as if they were e
109
Born in Taganrog, in southern Russia, to a devout, old-style merchant, Anton Chekhov came
Born in Taganrog, in southern Russia, to a devout, old-style merchant, Anton Chekhov came
Born in Taganrog, in southern Russia, to a devout, old-style merchant, Anton Chekhov came
110
Moscow and the Muscovites
Chekhov knew these trains. In 1892 he purchased Melikhovo, a delightful small estate a sh
Chekhov knew these trains. In 1892 he purchased Melikhovo, a delightful small estate a sh
Chekhov knew these trains. In 1892 he purchased Melikhovo, a delightful small estate a sh
the Moscow church bells which I love so much.’ And to Olga Knipper in 1903: ‘There’s no news. I
the Moscow church bells which I love so much.’ And to Olga Knipper in 1903: ‘There’s no news. I
the Moscow church bells which I love so much.’ And to Olga Knipper in 1903: ‘There’s no news. I
111
Three Sisters
112
I’ve been waiting all this time, imagining that we’d be moving to Moscow, and I’d meet the m
I’ve been waiting all this time, imagining that we’d be moving to Moscow, and I’d meet the m
I’ve been waiting all this time, imagining that we’d be moving to Moscow, and I’d meet the m
113
Chekhov’s Moscow, then, is a symbol of the happiness and better life to come. From Chekhov’s
Chekhov’s Moscow, then, is a symbol of the happiness and better life to come. From Chekhov’s
Chekhov’s Moscow, then, is a symbol of the happiness and better life to come. From Chekhov’s
114
Uncle Vanya
Three Sisters are constantly speculating about the future of Russia. They hope that one da
Three Sisters are constantly speculating about the future of Russia. They hope that one da
Three Sisters are constantly speculating about the future of Russia. They hope that one da
Three Sisters
The Cherry Orchard,
believed
115
Uncle Vanya.
Well, what can we do? We must go on living! We shall go on living, Uncle Vanya. We shall live t
Well, what can we do? We must go on living! We shall go on living, Uncle Vanya. We shall live t
Well, what can we do? We must go on living! We shall go on living, Uncle Vanya. We shall live t
116
Chekhov’s emphasis on the need to work was more than a Vol-tairean solution to the quest f
Chekhov’s emphasis on the need to work was more than a Vol-tairean solution to the quest f
Chekhov’s emphasis on the need to work was more than a Vol-tairean solution to the quest f
The Cherry Orchard,
niscent of the ‘nest of gentry’ melodramas that had been in fashion since Turgenev’s time.
niscent of the ‘nest of gentry’ melodramas that had been in fashion since Turgenev’s time.
niscent of the ‘nest of gentry’ melodramas that had been in fashion since Turgenev’s time.
dachas
Bygone Years (Starye gody)
Town and Country (Stolitsa i usad’ba)
zemstvo,
117
Chekhov called his play a ‘piece of vaudeville’.118 Throughout The Cherry Orchard he is sub
Chekhov called his play a ‘piece of vaudeville’.118 Throughout The Cherry Orchard he is sub
Chekhov called his play a ‘piece of vaudeville’.118 Throughout The Cherry Orchard he is sub
118
The Cherry Orchard
satire of the old-world gentry and the cult of rural Russia which grew up around it. What are we
satire of the old-world gentry and the cult of rural Russia which grew up around it. What are we
Other books
Dear Infidel by Tamim Sadikali
Seduced by a Highlander by Paula Quinn
Pennies From Heaven (The Bella Novella Collection Book 3) by Janice Thompson
Make Me Bad: Private Lessons by Vega, W.H.
Cherie's Silk by Dena Garson
Victoria's Got a Secret by HelenKay Dimon
Time Past by Maxine McArthur
Once More Into the Abyss by Dennis Danvers
The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
Granite Grit (Fighting's in the Blood #1) by Lee Cooper