Alexandra Kapnist was a representative of an ancient county family of Greek origin, known for her education and propensity for art. Her ancestor, Peter Kapnissi, was a colonel in the Venetian service. His son Stomatello received the title of count in 1702. The Kapnists arrived in Russia in 1711.
Famous writer and poet Vasily Kapnist was Aleksandra’s grandfather. He was born in 1758 in the Mirgorod district of the Kiev province. He received a good education at home, knew French, German, and later graduated from the best Petersburg boarding school. He studied at the school at the Izmailovsky Life Guards Regiment, six months later he became a ensign, and another one and a half years later - a sergeant.
In 1773, Vasily Kapnist was transferred to the Preobrazhensky regiment, where he became friends with Gavriil Derzhavin. That friendship survived throughout their lives. In 1775, Kapnist left military service and began to study literature.
In 1781, Vasily Kapnist married Aleksandra Dyakova. She was the sister of Derzhavin’s wife, Daria Derzhavina. Three years after the wedding, the couple moved to Obukhovka, where Kapnist became the leader of the nobility of the Mirgorod district, and in 1785, the provincial leader.
In 1796, Kapnist published his first collected works. In retirement, in addition to literature, he was also involved in public affairs, in 1785 he became a member of the Russian Academy. From 1799 to 1801, he directed a capital theatrical troupe, collaborated with Nikolay Karamzin, translated Horace, Homer’s Iliad, and The Tale of the Campaign of Igor.
Boris Chicherin met his future wife Aleksandra Kapnist in Rome in 1864, during a trip to Europe with the heir of Alexander II, Nikolay Aleksandrovich. She was 19, and the girl was famous for her beauty.
Chicherin immediately liked her: “I saw a beautiful angelic face, reminiscent of Beato Angelico Madonnas. It was the first female image, <…> full of grace and poetry. Providence seemed to show me the one who was supposed to fulfill my dreams.” The courtship lasted six years.
In March 1971, Boris Chicherin dedicated a poem full of admiration to Aleksandra Kapnist. The wedding took place in Moscow on April 25, 1871. Two separate portraits, in which artist Vladimir Sherwood captured the scientist and his graceful wife, became a memory of this important event.
Traditionally, the paintings of the Chicherins are viewed as paired; in some sources they date back to 1870. Judging by the lack of engagement rings, both works by Sherwood were created prior to their wedding.
Famous writer and poet Vasily Kapnist was Aleksandra’s grandfather. He was born in 1758 in the Mirgorod district of the Kiev province. He received a good education at home, knew French, German, and later graduated from the best Petersburg boarding school. He studied at the school at the Izmailovsky Life Guards Regiment, six months later he became a ensign, and another one and a half years later - a sergeant.
In 1773, Vasily Kapnist was transferred to the Preobrazhensky regiment, where he became friends with Gavriil Derzhavin. That friendship survived throughout their lives. In 1775, Kapnist left military service and began to study literature.
In 1781, Vasily Kapnist married Aleksandra Dyakova. She was the sister of Derzhavin’s wife, Daria Derzhavina. Three years after the wedding, the couple moved to Obukhovka, where Kapnist became the leader of the nobility of the Mirgorod district, and in 1785, the provincial leader.
In 1796, Kapnist published his first collected works. In retirement, in addition to literature, he was also involved in public affairs, in 1785 he became a member of the Russian Academy. From 1799 to 1801, he directed a capital theatrical troupe, collaborated with Nikolay Karamzin, translated Horace, Homer’s Iliad, and The Tale of the Campaign of Igor.
Boris Chicherin met his future wife Aleksandra Kapnist in Rome in 1864, during a trip to Europe with the heir of Alexander II, Nikolay Aleksandrovich. She was 19, and the girl was famous for her beauty.
Chicherin immediately liked her: “I saw a beautiful angelic face, reminiscent of Beato Angelico Madonnas. It was the first female image, <…> full of grace and poetry. Providence seemed to show me the one who was supposed to fulfill my dreams.” The courtship lasted six years.
In March 1971, Boris Chicherin dedicated a poem full of admiration to Aleksandra Kapnist. The wedding took place in Moscow on April 25, 1871. Two separate portraits, in which artist Vladimir Sherwood captured the scientist and his graceful wife, became a memory of this important event.
Traditionally, the paintings of the Chicherins are viewed as paired; in some sources they date back to 1870. Judging by the lack of engagement rings, both works by Sherwood were created prior to their wedding.
