Exhibitions: The L. N. Tolstoy “Yasnaya Polyana” Museum-Reserve hosts the exhibition dedicated to the writer’s mother, M. N. Volkonskaya

August 2, 2014 at the L. N. Tolstoy "Yasnaya Polyana" Museum-Reserve (the Tula region) opened the exhibition "Holy ideal" dedicated to Maria Nikolaevna Tolstaya (nee Volkonskaya), the writer's mother. "…In my presentation of here there is only the spiritual aspect, - remembered Tolstoy, - all, I know about her, everything is fine…".

Visitors of the exhibition will get acquainted with the history of princes Volkonsky, with the life of Moscow and St. Petersburg of the early XIX century, will learn how, thanks to the efforts of "smart, proud and talented" Prince N. S. Volkonsky and his daughter, Princess Mary, the Yasnoye village gradually turned into a corner Eden, where the main ideas of the Enlightenment considered a virtue and humanity, love of God and love of neighbor.

Visitors can also see the original manuscript of M. N. Volkonskaya, books, music folios with autographs and possessory records; family heirlooms that belonged to Maria Nikolaevna and cherished by her son - a crystal candle holder, jewelry boxes, icons, old prints, portraits of ancestors (copies made ​​by unknown artists serfs beginning of the XIX century).

Most of the exhibits are authentic and memorabilia objects from the collections of the Museum-Estate "Yasnaya Polyana" and the State Museum of Leo Tolstoy in Moscow.

The theme of Yasnaya Polyana is presented at the exhibition of paintings, which introduce to the work of artists 1810-70s, and at the same time reveal the subtle and lyrical image of M. N. Volkonskaya in all its many guises, showing her as a loving daughter, wife, mother, enlightened aristocrat; as mistress of Yasnaya Polyana and lover of "botanical walks"; as a fan of Rousseau, and deeply believing Russian woman; as a bright representative of gentle and brilliant century, called the Golden Age of Russian culture.

As part of opening of the exhibition took place a presentation of the catalog "M. N. Tolstaya (nee Princess Volkonskaya), the mother of L. N. Tolstoy. The catalog of materials from the collections of the State Museum of Leo Tolstoy. Moscow. 2014".