girl was a miracle as well: a pretty, smiling, thin ... When she was six, she was taken from the family in the master's house and learn all that is to know and be able serf theater actress.A few years later the girl has a very rare, enchanting voice, became the "pearl" of the theater Sheremetev, and evolved from Parasha Kovaleva in Praskovya Zhemchugovoy.
angel from heaven
Peter B. Barin doted on the little actress - she will dance and sing and play the harp and harpsichord."At anglitskom he says, in French and Italian too.Good manners and etiquette trained ", - said Peter B. his son Nicholas, who had returned from Europe.
Praskovya first time he saw the young count was pleasantly surprised, and he heard her singing - shocked."If an angel came down from heaven, if thunder and lightning struck again, I would have been less than amazed," - he wrote later.She was then six years old, he - twenty-two years.
Guessing Girl genius gift Sheremetev Jr. had a great desire to bring it to the stage and give the best role.A few years later, his dream has come true - Praskovya took the stage under the pseudonym Zhemchugov.This young Count came up with a fantasy discordant peasant change the names of their actresses nicknames formed from the names of precious stones - Turquoise, Garnet, Izumrudova.
Another favorite of
years passed.Count Nikolai Petrovich more interested in his extraordinary actress.A fragile, shy, with a thoughtful look big bright eyes, it differed refined manners, is not inherent to the peasants.Yes and no notice wakes up in her femininity was impossible.Graf, sated their thirties all the joys and pleasures of life, knew that sooner or later it will become one of his favorites.He did not rush things, he admired her from afar, knowing one thing: when an apple is ripe, it itself falls into his hands.
It happened on the day when 19-year-old Praskovya triumphantly performed in the opera "Samnite marriages".Catherine II herself came to the admiration of her skill and bestowed a diamond ring from his hand.That evening, while Praskovya became prima Sheremetev theater and favorite graph.
Nobody saw anything in their relationship special."Just think, amuse graph with another girl Bezrodnaya, and throw, sated," - rumored people.But everything turned out differently.
After the death of old Count Sheremetev heartbroken heir had a ball.Bitter washed down, I threw all things ... And then Praskovya proved a very unexpected source.She not only took over all the affairs of the theater, but has managed to bring the count of the binge, forced to return to a normal life and since then zaimela a tremendous impact.Feeling in the young darling real support, making out in her mind and tact, and noble heart, Nikolai Petrovich began to literally wear Praskovya on hand."I found it adorned with virtues intelligence, sincerity and kindness, constancy, loyalty and diligent worship of God" - he wrote later to his son.
Acquiescence
Soon Count Kuskovo built in a secluded house and lived there with his newfound love happy accident.But here in Moscow crawled heinous gossip.Light was ready to forgive the philandering Count, but was not ready to forgive love to land the girl, though very talented.Praskovya incredible suffering from human malice.Those who yesterday enthusiastically applauded her, gave flowers and showered with compliments, today braided behind her intrigues, dissolved the scandal.Do not lag behind and yard.Everyone considered it my duty to remind Praskovya what it is - nothing more than a serf girl, and another fun ...
To protect your favorite, Earl decided to build in the Ostankino Palace Theatre, which employs, and his mistress would Praskovja.
Manor grew incredible beauty.No wonder the wooden palace pale pink color with the best make-up rooms, the huge stage and gilded arches nicknamed the "Russian Versailles".When he ascended the throne childhood friend of Nikolai Petrovich - Paul I, love and all cheered.They hoped with all my heart that the new king will count permit unequal marriage.
that day when Paul I was pleased to visit Ostankino, all in the manor nervous and wondered - whether to allow the Tsar Sheremetev marry land?Meeting the king have prepared a surprising and a bit theatrical.On the way from Riga to the gates of the Ostankino staged illumination resin barrels.A thick grove through which lay the road to the palace, put each tree hour.When approaching the royal train, they gently fell one after the other, forming a road-clearing.The emperor was very pleased, but there was not a dinner or a play.He rushed like a whirlwind through the palace and left Sheremeteva appointed to the post of Chief Marshal of the Court and ordered to come to St. Petersburg.On the main
not say, but it was already clear.Well, if the king visited the home of Count, knowing about his illicit relationship, then it gave its tacit consent.
cunning plan
the capital of love went together.Settled in his Fountain House and lived no worse than before.That's only because the raw climate Praskovya became sick often.She now and then exacerbated consumption, strong sore throat, and a year later she began to lose his voice altogether.What kind of doctors are not only invited to the favorite graph, but all in vain."Tuberculosis" - they are bred hands.Soon Praskovja sing or perform on stage could not.She suffered with her suffering and Nikolai Petrovich.Seeing the suffering love, he closed his theater actresses, and dissolved by appointing them at the request of Paraskevi, a generous dowry.And at the same time he decided on deception.One of his faithful people to make a graph of ordered documents allegedly showing the origin of the genus Paraskevi Polish nobility Kovalevsky.As it turned out that her ancestor Jakub in the XVII century was captured by the Russian and became a serf Sheremetev."Accidentally discovered" these documents in the archive, Earl gave freestyle Praskovya and her family.It was done now could only wait.But the wait came short.As predicted by the graph, he soon got the highest resolution for the marriage with Praskovya.
birth of an heir
married secretly in Moscow in November 1801.After the ceremony, immediately returned to St. Petersburg, but the fact that they were now husband and wife, are still kept secret.Praskovya really wanted just once to go to the eminent guests openly legitimate mistress of the house and his wife.But the count was afraid to expose your favorite ridicule.It would simply not bear this.
But another dream come true Paraskevi - a much more significant.After so many years of marriage, she finally became pregnant.Having learned that soon he will be the successor, Nikolai Petrovich came overjoyed and immediately came up with a new trick.When the stomach Paraskevi rounded to the desired size, he ordered his serf artists Argunov her portrait.Thus he prepared to make public his marriage and the birth of a legitimate heir.However, the famous portrait of Paraskevi in a striped hood was over after the death of the Countess.
3 February 1803 Praskovya had a son Dmitry.And twenty days of life, which have been released to her fate, she spent in fear for her child - she was afraid that his vykradut.This circumstance also made a graph write a letter to the Emperor, to talk about their wedding and the birth of his son and asked the boy to recognize the rightful heir.The Emperor replied, "Count Sheremetyev lawful to marry anytime someone wants to» ...
... On the night of February 23 Praskovya died.And it turned out that the fears about the Count fashionable wiles proved not in vain.When he informed the aristocracy of the capital of his wife's death and announced the date of the funeral, one of the nobles has not deigned to come.Only the architect Giacomo Quarenghi, a fan and a friend, walked behind the coffin of land countess.
She was buried in the family vault Sheremetevs in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.When the count came out of the tomb, then he fell unconscious and lay unconscious for several days.
rest of his life - and his wife survived the graph for 6 years - he devoted to charity, as requested by his wife.At her request, he built not only the Hospice, but also many hospitals, churches, libraries and orphanages.I am leaving the house with a large sum of money, distributed alms and came home without a penny.No wonder his portrait painted by Borovikovsky was signed "Count Mercy."
He died without recovering from a cold, in January 1809.He was buried beside his wife in a simple tomb: all the money would go to the proper burial of Count Sheremetev, he ordered to distribute to the poor.
way:
Once Sheremetev noticed that Praskovya suspiciously often disappears from the house in the morning.He followed her and found out that the woman secretly runs on Sukharevka where beggars crowd and gave them alms.And then the Count, yielding request favorite, built on Sukharevka Hospice - a hospital for the poor and the needy.Now it is the famous Institute of Emergency Care.Sklifosovsky.
Natalia BYKOVA
Photo source: oracle-today.ru
Articles Source: oracle-today.ru
