The portrait depicts Count Dmitry Andreevich Tolstoy (1823-1889), who served as Minister of Public Education from 1866 to 1880, was the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire, as well as the chief of Gendarmerie (1882-1889) and president of the Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Andreevich was one of the brightest Russian historians. He received recognition in the scientific circles of the Russian and European society and received many honorary awards for his works.
Count Dmitry Tolstoy made a great contribution to the educational sphere. In 1860, he had been appointed a member of the Main Board of Schools of the Minister of National Enlightenment, and the next year he headed the Department of Public Education. Later, in 1866, Tolstoy was appointed minister of public education. This appointment took place after the assassination attempt on Emperor Alexander II. Then it was decided to pay more attention to the education of youth, as well as to strengthen control over educational institutions, depriving them of their autonomy. In a manner of speaking this determined the entire further vector of Dmitry Tolstoy’s activities.
In the early 1870s, he made several changes in the education system. Gymnasiums were reorganized into schools, in which the period of study was reduced. In educational institutions, the class principle was in effect: for men of the people - a parish school, for industrialists and merchants - a non-classical secondary school, for nobles - a classical gymnasium and a university. Moreover, only nobles could enter universities. Such harsh measures also had positive consequences. During Tolstoy’s tenure as minister, the number of educational institutions increased sharply. 60 male teachers' seminaries were opened to train teachers of the public school, the Higher Women’s Courses were established in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Kiev, a number of institutes were opened, including the Archaeological Institute in St. Petersburg, the University of Warsaw and the Higher School in Tomsk.
Dmitry Tolstoy owned estates in the Mikhailovsky and Zaraysk districts of the Ryazan province. Not least because of his assistance, Zaraysk became one of the largest education centers in the Ryazan province, which compared favorably with other cities in the province. In 1873, the Ministry of Public Education granted the City Duma’s petition to open a non-classical secondary school, which throughout the years of its existence played an important role in the development of the city. Since 1880, a five-year gymnasium was opened in Zaraysk, later transformed into a gymnasium.
Before coming to the Zaraysk Kremlin collection, Tolstoy’s portrait adorned the hall of one of the educational institutions in Zaraysk, in the establishment of which the Count was involved and was its trustee.
Count Dmitry Tolstoy made a great contribution to the educational sphere. In 1860, he had been appointed a member of the Main Board of Schools of the Minister of National Enlightenment, and the next year he headed the Department of Public Education. Later, in 1866, Tolstoy was appointed minister of public education. This appointment took place after the assassination attempt on Emperor Alexander II. Then it was decided to pay more attention to the education of youth, as well as to strengthen control over educational institutions, depriving them of their autonomy. In a manner of speaking this determined the entire further vector of Dmitry Tolstoy’s activities.
In the early 1870s, he made several changes in the education system. Gymnasiums were reorganized into schools, in which the period of study was reduced. In educational institutions, the class principle was in effect: for men of the people - a parish school, for industrialists and merchants - a non-classical secondary school, for nobles - a classical gymnasium and a university. Moreover, only nobles could enter universities. Such harsh measures also had positive consequences. During Tolstoy’s tenure as minister, the number of educational institutions increased sharply. 60 male teachers' seminaries were opened to train teachers of the public school, the Higher Women’s Courses were established in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Kiev, a number of institutes were opened, including the Archaeological Institute in St. Petersburg, the University of Warsaw and the Higher School in Tomsk.
Dmitry Tolstoy owned estates in the Mikhailovsky and Zaraysk districts of the Ryazan province. Not least because of his assistance, Zaraysk became one of the largest education centers in the Ryazan province, which compared favorably with other cities in the province. In 1873, the Ministry of Public Education granted the City Duma’s petition to open a non-classical secondary school, which throughout the years of its existence played an important role in the development of the city. Since 1880, a five-year gymnasium was opened in Zaraysk, later transformed into a gymnasium.
Before coming to the Zaraysk Kremlin collection, Tolstoy’s portrait adorned the hall of one of the educational institutions in Zaraysk, in the establishment of which the Count was involved and was its trustee.
