Xavier de Maistre was a French writer, painter, scientist, major general of the Russian Imperial Army. He emigrated from France, like most of the nobles after the beginning of the French revolution of 1789. In the beginning, he served at the Piedmontese court in Italy, where some his family estates were located, and later he arrived in Russia, in St. Petersburg. De Maistre moved to Moscow after his retirement. Here, he opened an art salon and gave painting lessons to provide for his family. Xavier De Maistre distinguished himself as a master of miniature painting. He painted a portrait of young Alexander Pushkin and his mother Nadezhda Osipovna. De Maistre also painted a lifetime portrait of commander Alexander Suvorov.
De Maistre returned to St. Petersburg in 1805, where he was offered to head the Maritime Museum. Thanks to de Maistre’s connections, the museum’s collection was replenished by private donations. The Frenchman was called to service in 1810. He fought in the Caucasus in the Patriotic War of 1812, and he was awarded the Golden Sword and the Order of St. Anna of the first degree for his military achievements. Xavier de Maistre published his literary works after the war.
One of his works was dedicated to Praskovia Lupolova, who traveled on foot from Ishim to St. Petersburg to ask the tsar for a pardon for her exiled father. The story ‘The Young Siberian’ became popular throughout the 19th century both in Russia and in France. Other writers borrowed the image of Lupolova from de Maistre’s text, and the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti created a romantic opera “Eight Months in Two Hours, or the Exiles in Siberia”.
The first edition of the story in Russian under the title “The Young Siberian Woman. The True Occurrence” was published in St. Petersburg in 1840, and the second, illustrated edition was published in 1845. The second edition was called “Parasha Lupolova”. Literary critic Vissarion Belinsky called the work “a wonderful story for the common people”.
De Maistre returned to St. Petersburg in 1805, where he was offered to head the Maritime Museum. Thanks to de Maistre’s connections, the museum’s collection was replenished by private donations. The Frenchman was called to service in 1810. He fought in the Caucasus in the Patriotic War of 1812, and he was awarded the Golden Sword and the Order of St. Anna of the first degree for his military achievements. Xavier de Maistre published his literary works after the war.
One of his works was dedicated to Praskovia Lupolova, who traveled on foot from Ishim to St. Petersburg to ask the tsar for a pardon for her exiled father. The story ‘The Young Siberian’ became popular throughout the 19th century both in Russia and in France. Other writers borrowed the image of Lupolova from de Maistre’s text, and the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti created a romantic opera “Eight Months in Two Hours, or the Exiles in Siberia”.
The first edition of the story in Russian under the title “The Young Siberian Woman. The True Occurrence” was published in St. Petersburg in 1840, and the second, illustrated edition was published in 1845. The second edition was called “Parasha Lupolova”. Literary critic Vissarion Belinsky called the work “a wonderful story for the common people”.
