The portrait of Fyodor Grigoryevich Kochurikhin from the exhibition of the Uglich Museum was painted by the artist Sergey Flegontov in 1785. This is the earliest signed portrait in the museum’s collection and the second one in the portrait gallery of the Kochurikhin house, spanning a century and four generations in the history of this family.
The father of Fyodor Grigoryevich Kochurikhin was a “confirmed dissenter” and perhaps even an Old Believer teacher. However, this did not stop Fyodor Grigoryevich from becoming one of the first mayors of Uglich. Later, his son followed in his footsteps and also had a public service career: he was elected councilor of the city duma.
The artist depicted Kochurikhin with a letter in which the merchant accused Old Believer creeds of internal conflict. The letter was widely known among Old Believers, hotly debated by them, and later published by Dmitry Fyodorovich, the author’s son, in “Governorate News”. As a result, the full text of this emotional and even irate letter became publicly available. Nowadays, it is still in the public domain. Having studied various creeds and denominations, Fyodor Grigoryevich became completely disillusioned with their conflicting views, gave up on Old Belief, turned to the official Orthodox Church, and married Fyokla Bagrovnikova who came not from the Old Believer community but from the right-bank or “respectable” part of the city. It was a bold decision: Kochurikhin defied his former associates, no-priest Old Believers, who stood against religious marriage.
Kochurikhin is depicted at the moment of writing his letter, while he ponders over various issues and ways to reproach “the conflicting creeds”. The painting counterposes the portrait of his father also depicted holding a scroll with his thoughts about faith. This became a kind of family tradition. Half a century later, Fyodor’s son sat for the portrait of another Uglich artist — Ivan Tarkhanov. He was depicted holding a letter with a red wax seal; however, this was a business letter of a dealer in linen. Fyodor’s grandson was also portrayed with an envelope in his hands.
The portraits of the man and wife constitute reliable documented proof of the fact that Fyodor Grigoryevich Kochurikhin had turned to the official Orthodox Church.
The father of Fyodor Grigoryevich Kochurikhin was a “confirmed dissenter” and perhaps even an Old Believer teacher. However, this did not stop Fyodor Grigoryevich from becoming one of the first mayors of Uglich. Later, his son followed in his footsteps and also had a public service career: he was elected councilor of the city duma.
The artist depicted Kochurikhin with a letter in which the merchant accused Old Believer creeds of internal conflict. The letter was widely known among Old Believers, hotly debated by them, and later published by Dmitry Fyodorovich, the author’s son, in “Governorate News”. As a result, the full text of this emotional and even irate letter became publicly available. Nowadays, it is still in the public domain. Having studied various creeds and denominations, Fyodor Grigoryevich became completely disillusioned with their conflicting views, gave up on Old Belief, turned to the official Orthodox Church, and married Fyokla Bagrovnikova who came not from the Old Believer community but from the right-bank or “respectable” part of the city. It was a bold decision: Kochurikhin defied his former associates, no-priest Old Believers, who stood against religious marriage.
Kochurikhin is depicted at the moment of writing his letter, while he ponders over various issues and ways to reproach “the conflicting creeds”. The painting counterposes the portrait of his father also depicted holding a scroll with his thoughts about faith. This became a kind of family tradition. Half a century later, Fyodor’s son sat for the portrait of another Uglich artist — Ivan Tarkhanov. He was depicted holding a letter with a red wax seal; however, this was a business letter of a dealer in linen. Fyodor’s grandson was also portrayed with an envelope in his hands.
The portraits of the man and wife constitute reliable documented proof of the fact that Fyodor Grigoryevich Kochurikhin had turned to the official Orthodox Church.
