The exhibition displays the portrait of Princess Natalya Dolgorukaya. The image dates back to the 17-th century Russian board-painted portrait. This refers to the first secular portraits in Rus. Princess Dolgorukaya was a nun in a Kiev monastery. The painting was presumably created by a Ukrainian artist after 1767, when Princess took the vows of schema. The traditions of the Russian board- painted portrait were followed in Ukraine throughout the 18-th century.
The nun’s figure is presented in a linear rendering. The artist does not attribute any visual volume to it. The nun is portrayed on the black and green background that does not convey the depth of space. The face of Princes Dolgorukaya is elaborately painted by the artist. The bright light makes the face more prominent on the dark background, and it appears mysterious. The meaningful look in her eyes says, she is deeply in thoughts, her eyes covered by a light veil.
The elaborate pattern on the nun’s head veil and other parts of her robes is crafted particularly carefully. Such an approach is typical of the board-portrait painting; everything that concerns the person portrayed, is depicted with utmost accuracy. The pattern involves a floral ornament and a cross. The portrait composition contains a rotulos with the words of a prayer inscribed on it.
Natalya Dolgorukaya was a daughter of Count Boris Sheremetev, the famous military commander. The Princess, as her contemporaries recalled, was noted for her beauty and sensitivity. When she was 15 years old, she made an acquaintance of Prince Ivan Dolgorukiy, who was a favourite of Emperor Peter II, and accepted his proposal to become his spouse. The Emperor died shortly, and the Dolgorukiy’s fell out of favour under the new rule. Nevertheless, the Princess did not abandon her fiancé, despite the entreaties of her relatives.
After the church wedding, the whole family and the young spouse were sent to an exile for years to come. The Princess’s exile was full of tribulations. When her husband was executed, she made a vow to retreat to a monastery. After the execution, Princess was allowed to return to Moscow. She raised two sons and afterwards performed her vow, spending the last years of her life in the monastery as a nun.
In 1757, Natalya Dolgorukaya became the nun of the Kiev Florovskiy Monastery. Shortly before her death, she took the vows of schema under the name of Nektariya. She described her destiny in ‘The Notes of Princess Natalya Borisovna Dolgorukaya made by her own hand’. The Notes occupy their rightful place among the literary works of the 18-th century, dwelling on the way of life and morals of that time.
The nun’s figure is presented in a linear rendering. The artist does not attribute any visual volume to it. The nun is portrayed on the black and green background that does not convey the depth of space. The face of Princes Dolgorukaya is elaborately painted by the artist. The bright light makes the face more prominent on the dark background, and it appears mysterious. The meaningful look in her eyes says, she is deeply in thoughts, her eyes covered by a light veil.
The elaborate pattern on the nun’s head veil and other parts of her robes is crafted particularly carefully. Such an approach is typical of the board-portrait painting; everything that concerns the person portrayed, is depicted with utmost accuracy. The pattern involves a floral ornament and a cross. The portrait composition contains a rotulos with the words of a prayer inscribed on it.
Natalya Dolgorukaya was a daughter of Count Boris Sheremetev, the famous military commander. The Princess, as her contemporaries recalled, was noted for her beauty and sensitivity. When she was 15 years old, she made an acquaintance of Prince Ivan Dolgorukiy, who was a favourite of Emperor Peter II, and accepted his proposal to become his spouse. The Emperor died shortly, and the Dolgorukiy’s fell out of favour under the new rule. Nevertheless, the Princess did not abandon her fiancé, despite the entreaties of her relatives.
After the church wedding, the whole family and the young spouse were sent to an exile for years to come. The Princess’s exile was full of tribulations. When her husband was executed, she made a vow to retreat to a monastery. After the execution, Princess was allowed to return to Moscow. She raised two sons and afterwards performed her vow, spending the last years of her life in the monastery as a nun.
In 1757, Natalya Dolgorukaya became the nun of the Kiev Florovskiy Monastery. Shortly before her death, she took the vows of schema under the name of Nektariya. She described her destiny in ‘The Notes of Princess Natalya Borisovna Dolgorukaya made by her own hand’. The Notes occupy their rightful place among the literary works of the 18-th century, dwelling on the way of life and morals of that time.
