This is a half-length portrait of Stepan Alexandrovich Talyzin in a ceremonial uniform of a colonel of the Special Caucasian Corps. Count Stepan Talyzin is depicted with all his military decorations and an honorary saber with a gold hilt. Covered with white gloves, one of his hands sits on the armrest of a chair, while the other holds a black lamb fur hat adorned with gold insignia. Talyzin’s detached look, dashingly curled mustache, and gallant posture proclaim him a daring rider and soldier.
Stepan Talyzin (1825–1878) was the son of Olga Nikolaevna and Alexander Stepanovich Talyzins. He served as a junior captain, before becoming lieutenant colonel of the Special Caucasian Corps. He began his service as a cadet in the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, where he was first promoted to warrant officer in 1843 and then to junior captain in 1848.
In 1861, he was elected the chief conciliator of the Bronnitsy District. Six years later, he was appointed an official for special assignments, VII class, under the governor of the Caucasus. In 1869, he became a secretary of Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Olga Fyodorovna. He served first as a gentleman of the bedchamber, and then as the chamberlain of His Majesty’s Court. In 1878, he was granted the rank of actual state councilor.
He remained unmarried his entire life, but did not hesitate to become the guardian of his sister Natalya’s children when she became a widow.
The painting most likely originated from the Denezhnikovo estate in the Moscow Region. The estate belonged to the Talyzins, noblemen of ancient standing whose family tree, judging by historical documents, goes all the way back to the 15th century. The names of its members are found in accounts of many significant events in the history of the Russian state. The family originates from murza of the Golden Horde Kuchuk Bey-Tagaldy-zin, who was baptised as Yakov.
The estate ensemble of Denezhnikovo was built by a member of the Admiralty Board since 1748, admiral Ivan Lukyanovich Talyzin (1700–1779). Ivan Lukyanovich was a relative of Nikita Ivanovich Panin, a diplomat in charge of the Russian foreign policy. Another relative of Ivan Talyzin was the Chancellor of the Russian Empire Alexey Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin.
It was he who famously replied to the envoys of Peter III that they should “leave the way they came, for he had not seen any Emperor of Russia, and serves faithfully only to the sole Empress of All Russia, Catherine II.”
Eventually, Denezhnikovo passed on to Ivan Lukyanovich’s male heir, Alexander Fyodorovich Talyzin (1731–1787). He was promoted to lieutenant captain, then to captain; he was a gentleman of the bedchamber of the Imperial Court, then a secret councilor, senator, and chamberlain; he was decorated with the highest orders, and had a distinct honor of wearing a diamond epaulette on his left shoulder.
Alexander Talyzin played a prominent role in the plot to overthrow Peter III and crown Catherine the Great. The Empress entered Petersburg disguised in Talyzin’s uniform. This uniform was kept as an heirloom by the Apraksin family first in the village of Olgovo in the Moscow Province, and then in Denezhnikovo. Currently, the uniform is contained in the collection of the State Historical Museum.
Stepan Talyzin (1825–1878) was the son of Olga Nikolaevna and Alexander Stepanovich Talyzins. He served as a junior captain, before becoming lieutenant colonel of the Special Caucasian Corps. He began his service as a cadet in the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, where he was first promoted to warrant officer in 1843 and then to junior captain in 1848.
In 1861, he was elected the chief conciliator of the Bronnitsy District. Six years later, he was appointed an official for special assignments, VII class, under the governor of the Caucasus. In 1869, he became a secretary of Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Olga Fyodorovna. He served first as a gentleman of the bedchamber, and then as the chamberlain of His Majesty’s Court. In 1878, he was granted the rank of actual state councilor.
He remained unmarried his entire life, but did not hesitate to become the guardian of his sister Natalya’s children when she became a widow.
The painting most likely originated from the Denezhnikovo estate in the Moscow Region. The estate belonged to the Talyzins, noblemen of ancient standing whose family tree, judging by historical documents, goes all the way back to the 15th century. The names of its members are found in accounts of many significant events in the history of the Russian state. The family originates from murza of the Golden Horde Kuchuk Bey-Tagaldy-zin, who was baptised as Yakov.
The estate ensemble of Denezhnikovo was built by a member of the Admiralty Board since 1748, admiral Ivan Lukyanovich Talyzin (1700–1779). Ivan Lukyanovich was a relative of Nikita Ivanovich Panin, a diplomat in charge of the Russian foreign policy. Another relative of Ivan Talyzin was the Chancellor of the Russian Empire Alexey Petrovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin.
It was he who famously replied to the envoys of Peter III that they should “leave the way they came, for he had not seen any Emperor of Russia, and serves faithfully only to the sole Empress of All Russia, Catherine II.”
Eventually, Denezhnikovo passed on to Ivan Lukyanovich’s male heir, Alexander Fyodorovich Talyzin (1731–1787). He was promoted to lieutenant captain, then to captain; he was a gentleman of the bedchamber of the Imperial Court, then a secret councilor, senator, and chamberlain; he was decorated with the highest orders, and had a distinct honor of wearing a diamond epaulette on his left shoulder.
Alexander Talyzin played a prominent role in the plot to overthrow Peter III and crown Catherine the Great. The Empress entered Petersburg disguised in Talyzin’s uniform. This uniform was kept as an heirloom by the Apraksin family first in the village of Olgovo in the Moscow Province, and then in Denezhnikovo. Currently, the uniform is contained in the collection of the State Historical Museum.
