Maria Alexandrovna Ostrovskaya-Shatelen was an artist and daughter of the playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky.
The portrait of a young Nenets woman was supposedly painted during the coronation of the last Russian emperor, held in 1896. The coronation of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was the last coronation in the history of the Russian Empire. It took place on Tuesday, May 14 (O.S., 26 May N.S.), 1896 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Among the numerous guests were delegations from all peoples inhabiting Russia.
According to the memories of her relatives, Maria Alexandrovna Ostrovskaya-Shatelen was a modest and sincere person. Although there is an element of theatricality in the portrait, the artist seems to be genuinely interested in the sitter. The depicted woman habitually sits on a sled covered with reindeer skins. The features of the young face are beautiful, not sharp, but at the same time clear. The oval face, the cut of the eyes, the prominent cheekbones, and the delicate blush on the cheeks — all this gives a special charm to the appearance of the young Northerner. The artist carefully and lovingly reproduces the color palette of the national costume, a fur coat draped over the shoulders, embroidered with geometric ornaments. By conveying her features, the artist also represents the social status of the young woman — hence the natural static pose and the peculiar ceremonial interpretation of the image.
The Nenets are an indigenous people who inhabit northwestern Russia. Most Nenets are engaged in hunting, reindeer husbandry and fishing. Winter in the Far North lasts nine months, the temperature can drop to minus 50 ° C, and summer brings high humidity, heat, flies, and mosquitoes. The most characteristic detail of the Nenets men’s costume for many hundreds of years has been a fur jacket, and of the women’s national costume is a yagushka. They wear shoes called pimy and tobaki. The shape and material of the fur hat are perfect for harsh weather conditions and nomadic life. The Nenets people spend their entire life side by side with deer. To make winter men’s clothing, 5 deer skins are needed, and to build a chum (a temporary dwelling) — at least 30.
The portrait of a young Nenets woman was supposedly painted during the coronation of the last Russian emperor, held in 1896. The coronation of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was the last coronation in the history of the Russian Empire. It took place on Tuesday, May 14 (O.S., 26 May N.S.), 1896 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Among the numerous guests were delegations from all peoples inhabiting Russia.
According to the memories of her relatives, Maria Alexandrovna Ostrovskaya-Shatelen was a modest and sincere person. Although there is an element of theatricality in the portrait, the artist seems to be genuinely interested in the sitter. The depicted woman habitually sits on a sled covered with reindeer skins. The features of the young face are beautiful, not sharp, but at the same time clear. The oval face, the cut of the eyes, the prominent cheekbones, and the delicate blush on the cheeks — all this gives a special charm to the appearance of the young Northerner. The artist carefully and lovingly reproduces the color palette of the national costume, a fur coat draped over the shoulders, embroidered with geometric ornaments. By conveying her features, the artist also represents the social status of the young woman — hence the natural static pose and the peculiar ceremonial interpretation of the image.
The Nenets are an indigenous people who inhabit northwestern Russia. Most Nenets are engaged in hunting, reindeer husbandry and fishing. Winter in the Far North lasts nine months, the temperature can drop to minus 50 ° C, and summer brings high humidity, heat, flies, and mosquitoes. The most characteristic detail of the Nenets men’s costume for many hundreds of years has been a fur jacket, and of the women’s national costume is a yagushka. They wear shoes called pimy and tobaki. The shape and material of the fur hat are perfect for harsh weather conditions and nomadic life. The Nenets people spend their entire life side by side with deer. To make winter men’s clothing, 5 deer skins are needed, and to build a chum (a temporary dwelling) — at least 30.
