Marina Mnishek before taking the veil

Details

Klavdii Petrovich Stepanov (1854-1910)
Marina Mnishek before taking the veil
signed in Cyrillic and dated 'K. Stepanov/1889' (lower centre); also further inscribed in Russian 'K. Stepanov - Marina Mnishek before taking a veil after dethronment of Lzhedmitrii' (label attached to the reverse)
oil on board
12 x 9 1/3 in. (30.5 x 25.5 cm.)

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Lot Essay

Marina Mniszech (c.1588-1614) was regarded as a political adventuress. She was the daughter of Georgii Mniszech, an organizer of Polish intervention against Russia in 17th century. During this period the stability of the Russian throne was under threat after the mysterious assassination of the young Prince Dmitry which discontinued the direct family line of Russian heirs. Marina became wife to the first Lzhedmitrii (False Dmitry) - a Polish imposter who claimed to be Prince Dmitry. She was crowned Tsarina of the Moscow throne in 1606. Mniszech provided a vital connection for the Polish-Lithuanian barons and the Catholic clergy. By 1608 a plot to overthrow the Russian throne by Polish powers was uncovered and the Lzhedmitrii was assassinated. However, Marina escaped punishment on numerous occasions, and even appeared in Moscow with the second Lzhedmitrii.

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