Konstantin Makovskii: Boyars' Wedding Feast

Konstantin Yegorovich Makovskii
Боярский свадебный пир в xvii веке
oil on canvas, 1883

After hundred and fifty years of westernization effort Russian society came back to search its authentic roots. It was the second part of the XIXth century: this canvas (hosted now at Hillwood) is suggestive for the new trends, the quest for pure Russian ethos.

Konstantin Makovskii belonged to a family of artists: his father Yegor was one of the founders of Moscow Art School, his brothers Vladimir and Nikolai, as well as his sister Alexandra, were all famous painters.

The painting singles out the moment when guests toast the traditional горько (bitter), meaning that wine has become bitter and a bridal kiss would make it sweet again.

The painting inspired an 8 minute movie made in Russia in 1909: Russkaya svadba XVI stoletiya.

(Hillwood Estate)