Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich - Russian poet and statesman. In various years, he held the highest government positions: ruler of the Olonets viceroy (1784-1785), governor of the Tambov province (1786-1788), cabinet secretary (1791-1793), president of the Commerce Collegium (since 1794), minister of justice (1802-1803 ). Member Russian Academy since its foundation.

Years of life: 1743 - 1816.

Memorable dates

(03.07 according to the old style) - Birthday. Derzhavin was born in 1743 in the village of Sokura, Kazan province.

(08.07 according to the old style) - Day of Remembrance (death). Derzhavin died in 1816 at the Zvanka estate, Novgorod province. He was buried with his wife in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky Monastery near Veliky Novgorod. In 1959, the ashes of Derzhavin and his wife were reburied in the Novgorod Kremlin, but in 1993, after the restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky Monastery was completed, the remains of the Derzhavins were returned to the crypts of the monastery.

The Derzhavins descended from the Tatar Murza Bagrim, who went to the service of Vasily the Dark and converted to Orthodoxy. Bagrim's grandson, Alexei, received the nickname Derzhava, which gave the descendants of the clan the surname Derzhavin. Gavriil Romanovich was born in the family estate in the village of Karmachi near Kazan in 1743, where he spent his childhood.

In his book Notes from Incidents Known to Everyone (1812), Derzhavin writes to himself - “Their mentioned son was the first from their marriage; in infancy he was very small, weak and dry, so that, due to the lack of education in that region at that time folk custom, it was supposed to be baked in bread, so that he would get some living creatures.

Derzhavin early lost his father, Major Roman Nikolayevich. Mother - Fyokla Andreevna (nee Kozlova). Despite the fact that the Derzhavin family was considered noble at that time, the Derzhavin family was not rich. So, the father owned the estate, with only 10 serfs.

Since 1762, the young Derzhavin has been serving in the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Since Derzhavin had no connections, he for a long time served as a soldier and only in 1772 received an officer's position.

In 1773-1774, Derzhavin participated in the suppression of the Pugachev uprising, where he performed a military feat and was honored with a meeting with Suvorov himself.

In his youth, Derzhavin wrote a lot, but in 1770 he was forced to burn everything that he had created. This was due to the fact that the official did not allow Derzhavin to enter St. Petersburg from Moscow, fearing the spread of the plague (at that time there was an epidemic of this disease in Moscow). In his book "Notes from Incidents Known to Everyone" (1812), Derzhavin describes this episode - "Approaching St. Petersburg in 1770, as the pestilence was already spreading, I found a quarantine outpost on Izhora or Tosna, where I was supposed to live for two weeks It seemed a long time, and there was nothing to live for lack of money, then he tried to beg the quarantine chief for an early pass, proving that he was not a rich man, he did not have any clothes that should have been fumigated and aired; but how he had one chest with papers, then they found it an obstacle; in order to get rid of it, he burned it at the guards with everything that was in it, and, turning the papers into ashes, sacrificed to Pluto everything that he had in all his youth through Smeared for almost 20 years, like that: translations from German language and his own writings in prose and verse.

Literary and public fame comes to Derzhavin in 1782, after writing the ode "Felitsa", which praises the empress, but criticizes her environment. Interesting response to this piece. So, Derzhavin himself in "Notes from Incidents Known to Everyone" (1812) writes - "One day, when the author was having lunch with this boss, the postman brought him a paper scroll with the inscription: "From Orenburg from the Kyrgyz Princess to Murza Derzhavin." He was surprised and, having opened it, found in it a beautiful, golden snuff-box strewn with diamonds and in it 500 chervonny. "(in the Ode Derzhavin called Kyrgyz princess).

After this story, he appoints Derzhavin the governor of the Olonets province. From the first days, Derzhavin began to restore order and, faced with the interests of the viceroy of the empress. In his book "Notes from Incidents Known to Everyone" (1812), Derzhavin describes that the governor sent him to Kem at a time when getting there was risky for life, due to severe climatic conditions. Derzhavin got there, having fulfilled the order, and on the way back, their ship fell into a terrible storm, where the entire crew miraculously survived - “Derzhavin ordered to keep to the islands to the right. waves, and would inevitably have drowned, but God miraculously saved the perishing. Although Derzhavin had never been to the sea, he did not become timid and did not lose heart when the executor who was with him, the aforementioned Emin and secretary Gribovskaya, who later became secretary of state under the empress, they lay dead almost unconscious, and even the rowers themselves, like the Laplanders, unskillful sailors, were numb, so to speak, and were motionless, then one second and the shaft were needed for the burial of everyone in the sea abyss. At that very moment Derzhavin jumped up , shouted at the rowers so as not to be shy, raised the oars, on which the boat leaned a little and suddenly found itself behind a stone, which prevented it from flooding with waves. In memory of this incident, Derzhavin wrote the ode "The Tempest".

Since 1785, Derzhavin was appointed governor of the Tambov province. And in this case, Derzhavin's attempts to restore order, the fight against corruption lead to conflicts with the local elite, and in 1789 he returned to the capital, where he occupied various high administrative positions.

Under Alexander I, Derzhavin received the post of Minister of Justice (1802-1803). Derzhavin was known as an uncompromising fighter against corruption. During the year of his work in this post, Derzhavin uncovered a huge number of corruption cases (the materials of these cases are now in the Museum-estate of G.R. Derzhavin - (in the city of St. Petersburg)). In his investigations, he reached such heights that Alexander I, under pressure from the aristocracy, was forced to remove him from the post of Minister of Justice. When signing the decree dismissing Derzhavin, Alexander I said, "You serve too zealously," to which Derzhavin replied, "I can't do it any other way." In his book "Notes from Incidents Known to Everyone" (1812), Derzhavin describes this case as follows - "There was a lengthy and rather heated explanation from Derzhavin, in which he asked him what he had done before him. He could do nothing to accuse him as soon as: “You serve very zealously.” “But how is it, sir,” answered Derzhavin, “I can’t serve otherwise. Excuse me." - "Stay in the Council and the Senate." - "I have nothing to do there." - "But submit a request," the sovereign confirmed, "to dismiss you from the post of Justice Minister." - "I will execute the command." So, more than 200 years ago, another attempt to fight corruption ended in the victory of corruption.

All this time Derzhavin has been writing poetry. He creates odes "God" (1784), "Thunder of victory, resound!" (1791, unofficial Russian anthem), "Velmozha" (1794), "Waterfall" (1798) and many others.

In 1803, Derzhavin retired, settled in St. Petersburg and his estate Zvanka in the Novgorod province. In the last years of his life, he focused on literary activity.

Derzhavin was fond of billiards. A billiard room was equipped in his house, where he played with friends. Derzhavin also played cards. So, in the family budget, his wife Daria Alekseevna established a separate article for losing at cards. By agreement, he could spend no more than the amount set in the budget on cards.

Derzhavin was married twice. His first wife, Ekaterina Yakovlevna, died of consumption in 1794. She was good at drawing during her lifetime. She was especially good at silhouettes. In the Museum-Estate of G. R. Derzhavin you can see a portrait of Derzhavin and a self-portrait made by her hand. Approximately six months after the death of his first wife, the 52-year-old married 28-year-old Daria Alekseevna, who soon proved herself to be an exemplary wife and mistress. He lived with her until his death in 1816.

Interesting advice from Derzhavin, formulated in the poem "The Rule to Live" (c. 1777):

"Comfort with the bow of the proud,
Slap the quarrelsome
Grease the gate with grease,
Shut the dog's mouth with bread - I bet
That all four will be silent."

The painting by Ilya Repin is widely known. Pushkin at the lyceum exam in Tsarskoye Selo on January 8, 1815», 1911, which is located in the All-Russian Museum of A.S. Pushkin. In 1815, when the young, the then already elderly and ill Derzhavin was invited to the exam. Derzhavin with difficulty covered the distance from St. Petersburg to Tsarskoe Selo, he was very tired and it was clear that he was very hard. When he was taking an exam in literature, Derzhavin perked up. He liked the poet's poems so much that after the end of the exam, he asked to be called to him in order to hug him. But the poets are not ours.

The portrait of Derzhavin by Salvatore Tonci was painted in 1799. At the bottom of the portrait, S. Tonchi wrote a couplet in Latin, which in translation means "Justice is depicted in the form of a rock, the prophetic spirit is in the ruddy sunrise, and the heart and honesty are in the whiteness of the snows.

Derzhavin and his wife Daria Alekseevna were buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky Monastery near Veliky Novgorod. Derzhavin died in 1816 at his home on the Zvanka estate. The coffin with the body of the deceased was transported to the burial place on a barge along the Volkhov. During the Great Patriotic War the monastery was destroyed. Derzhavin's grave was also damaged. In 1959, the reburial of the remains of the poet and his wife took place in Novgorod Detinets. In 1993, in connection with the 250th anniversary of the poet, his remains were returned to the monastery.

In the house in St. Petersburg where the poet lived today is the Museum-estate of G.R. Derzhavin. His estate Zvanka in the Novgorod province, unfortunately, was almost completely destroyed.

Derzhavin Gavriil (Gavrila) Romanovich (July 14, 1743 - July 20, 1816) - one of the most important Russian poets of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His poetic achievement was perceived by his contemporaries as the crowned treasure of an entire era. Translations of his works into many languages ​​provided him international recognition, which the Russian poet had not yet reached before him. Shortly before his death, Derzhavin attended the final examination of a rising young star, Alexander Pushkin, who was still a teenager at the time. Hearing Pushkin's poems dedicated to the lyceum in Tsarskoe Selo, of which he was a graduate, Derzhavin, overwhelmed by emotions, even shed a tear. This incident is generally regarded in the history of Russian literature as a sign of the transition between two literary epochs in Russia - between the eighteenth century and the so-called "golden age" of Russian literature.

by the most famous works Derzhavin are: "On the Death of Prince Meshchersky" (1779 - 1783), "Felitsa" (1782), an ode to "God" (1784), "Lords and Judges" (1780) and "Waterfall" (1791 - 1794).

Derzhavin's poetry and memoirs provide a rich and complex portrait of his time, using topics ranging from war and peace to love and eating. In his poetry he was a defender of justice and an independent spirit. Politically, however, Derzhavin remained a staunch monarchist and an ardent opponent of liberal ideas. Together with Admiral Alexander Shishkov, Derzhavin created a literary society called the Conversation of Lovers of the Russian Word, which was attended by five hundred members, whose meetings were held in Derzhavin's house in St. Petersburg.

The presence of the imagery of Derzhavin's time can be seen in the works of later Russian poets such as Pushkin, Tyutchev, Fet, Mandelstam. With its emphasis on odes and competition between literary images, Derzhavin's poetry represents the culmination and expansion of Russian classicism, rather than the first step towards Russian romanticism.

Derzhavin was also a Russian statesman. He worked first as the governor of the Tambov province in 1786-1788. A man of the Enlightenment, he became the most famous poet and served as Minister of Justice to Catherine II from 1802 to 1805. Derzhavin served for some time as Catherine II's personal secretary.

Derzhavin was the first governor of the Olonets province. He became governor 13 years after the suppression of the Olonets uprising of the peasants in Kizhi (1769-1771) and demanded that the peasants strictly fulfill all the duties assigned to them, remembering that "ruin and poverty are often the cause of great impudence and crimes." Derzhavin was also interested in the activities of the Alexander Plant in Petrozavodsk, the largest state-owned enterprise in the region.He was one of the first people who looked for ways to preserve wildlife and protection of the forests of Karelia. Derzhavin carried out many of the provincial reforms of Catherine II. As a result of his work, the borders between Russia and Sweden were established, and plans for regional cities and a map of the Olonets province were drawn up.

In the summer of 1785, Derzhavin reviewed the Olonets province. He traveled about two thousand kilometers by boat and on horseback. During this difficult and dangerous journey, he kept a diary containing valuable information about life in the region in the 18th century, including the first descriptions of the Kivach waterfall, provincial cities, the originality of Karelian culture and language, and much more. The first governor of the Olonets province also carried out big job for the organization of health care, public education and philanthropy in the region.

Derzhavin personally opened the Olonets public charitable department, the main purpose of which was to manage schools, hospitals, shelters, etc. He took an active part in replenishing the funds of this department and before leaving, he donated 100 rubles to charity (a significant amount of money at that time ). Derzhavin also had a hand in opening the state's first hospital in Petrozavodsk (where treatment was free), developing the charter of the hospital and pharmacy.

During the poet's residence in Petrozavodsk, he described Karelia in the famous ode "Waterfall", which marks the beginning of the Karelian theme in Russian poetry. The poem "The Tempest" and the libretto of the opera "The Miners" are also closely connected with the region.

Derzhavin was born in Kazan in the family of an impoverished landowner. His distant ancestor Murza Bagrim moved from the Horde to Moscow in the 15th century. However, in the 18th century, Gavriil Derzhavin's father was just a poor landowner who died when Gavriil was still small. Derzhavin graduated from the Kazan high school in 1759. The level of education was very weak and he did not even get a higher education. In 1762, Derzhavin was called to serve in the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, where he stayed until 1772 and received the rank of officer.

Derzhavin rose from the ranks of a simple soldier to senior positions government of Catherine the Great. For the first time he made an impression on the commanders during the Pugachev uprising. He was well versed in politics, so Derzhavin left military service and went to the state. He rose to the post of governor of the Olonets (1784) and Tambov (1785) provinces, became the Empress's personal secretary (1791), president of the College of Commerce (1794) and, finally, minister of justice (1802). He retired in 1803 and spent the rest of his life at his Zvanka estate near Novgorod.

Gabriel Derzhavin died in 1816 and was buried in the crypts of the Khutyn Monastery. Under Soviet rule, his remains were transferred to the Novgorodsky detinets, and later returned to Khutyn again.

Gabriel Derzhavin

Russian Enlightenment poet, statesman Russian Empire, senator, active privy councilor

short biography

Russian poet, the largest figure of Russian classicism, literature of the Enlightenment. He was born on July 14 (July 3, according to the old style), 1743, in the family estate in the village of Karmachi, Kazan province. He was the son of a poor landowner and a descendant of a family, the founder of which, according to family tradition, was the Tatar Murza. Having no education themselves, Derzhavin's parents made sure that their children were brought up and educated. In 1750, Gavrila was sent to a German boarding school, and from 1759 to 1762 he was a student at the Kazan Gymnasium.

At the age of nineteen, Derzhavin entered the military service, served in the Preobrazhensky Regiment as a soldier of the Life Guards; within this military formation took part in the coup d'état, as a result of which the throne went to Catherine II. In 1772, Derzhavin received an officer's position, but he military career develops in such a way that he has to retire and enter the civil service.

In 1773, the journal "Antiquity and Novelty" published "Iroida, or Vivlida's Letters to Cavnus" - the debut work of Gabriel Derzhavin, which was a translation from a German passage from Ovid. At first, creating in line with the traditions laid down by Lomonosov and Sumarokov, in 1779 he began to follow his own literary path, creating works in a style that was then revered as an example of philosophical lyrics.

The ode Felitsa, which sang of Catherine II, written in 1782, changed Derzhavin's further biography, bringing him fame - not only literary, but also social. Thanks to this, in 1784 he got to the post of governor of the Olonets province, granted by the empress, which he held only until 1785 due to a conflict with local authorities. He did not have relations with the Tambov officials either, when in 1786 he was appointed governor of the Tambov province, therefore, in the post of G.R. Derzhavin held out until 1788, when he was recalled by the empress to the capital. For a short period of governorship, the poet proved himself an implacable opponent of various abuses on the part of officials, did a lot on the path of educating the population.

In 1789 Derzhavin returned to the capital. In 1791-1793. was in the position of cabinet-secretary of Catherine II, after which the empress deprived him of his post for excessive zeal. Accustomed to telling the truth in person, too independent and active, Derzhavin amassed many ill-wishers during his civil service. From 1793 he sat in the Senate, from 1794 he served as president of the College of Commerce, in 1802-1803. - Minister of Justice, after which he resigned at the age of 60.

Having retired from the civil service, Gavriil Romanovich lives not only in St. Petersburg, but also in the Novgorod province, where he had the Zvanka estate. Even as an official, he did not stop his literary activity, wrote many odes, and after retiring he got the opportunity to fully concentrate on it. Closer to the end creative way Gavriil Romanovich tried himself in the genre of dramaturgy, writing a number of tragedies. In 1808 a collection of his works was published in four volumes.

Petersburg house of Derzhavin was a meeting place for writers, in 1811 the circle of regulars became an officially registered literary society "Conversation of lovers of the Russian word", the head of which was himself and A.S. Shishkov. His views on language and literature were quite conservative, but this did not prevent Derzhavin from showing interest and favoring innovative phenomena in poetry. A fact from the biography of Pushkin is widely known, when he was noticed and "going down to the grave, blessed" "old man Derzhavin." His work in line with classicism became the soil on which the poetry of Pushkin, Batyushkov, and the Decembrist poets grew up.

Derzhavin died on July 20 (July 8, O.S.), 1816, on his estate. He was buried not far from Veliky Novgorod, in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky Monastery. The burial place during the Great Patriotic War turned into ruins due to shelling. Only in 1959, the remains of Derzhavin and his wife were reburied in the Novgorod citadel, but in 1993 they were returned to former place when the cathedral was restored.

Biography from Wikipedia

According to family tradition, the Derzhavins and Narbekovs descended from one of the Tatar families. A certain Bagrim-Murza left for Moscow from the Great Horde and after baptism entered the service of Grand Duke Vasily Vasilyevich.

Gavriil Romanovich was born into a family of small estate nobles in the Sokura family estate near Kazan on July 14, 1743, where he spent his childhood. Mother - Fyokla Andreevna (nee Kozlova). Father, Second Major Roman Nikolaevich, Gavril Romanovich lost at an early age.

From 1762 he served as an ordinary guardsman in the Preobrazhensky regiment, as part of the regiment he took part in the coup d'état on June 28, 1762, as a result of which Catherine II came to the throne.

From 1772 he served in the regiment in officer position, in 1773-1775, as part of the regiment, he participated in the suppression of the uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev. Derzhavin's first poems were published in 1773.

In 1777, upon retirement, began civil service State Councilor G. R. Derzhavin in the Governing Senate.

Wide literary fame came to G. Derzhavin in 1782 after the publication of the ode "Felitsa", which in enthusiastic tones was dedicated by the author to Empress Catherine II.

From the moment the Imperial Russian Academy was founded in 1783, Derzhavin was a member of the academy, took a direct part in compiling and publishing the first explanatory dictionary Russian language.

In May 1784 he was appointed ruler of the Olonets vicegerency. Arriving in Petrozavodsk, he organized the formation of provincial administrative, financial and judicial institutions, put into effect the first general civil medical institution - city ​​hospital. The result of on-site inspections in the counties of the province was his “A Day Note, made during the review of the province by the ruler of the Olonets viceroy Derzhavin”, in which G. R. Derzhavin showed the interdependence of natural and economic factors, noted the elements of the material and spiritual culture of the region. Later, the images of Karelia entered his work: the poems "Storm", "Swan", "To the second neighbor", "For Happiness", "Waterfall".

In 1786-1788 he served as the ruler of the Tambov viceroy. He showed himself as an enlightened leader, left a significant mark in the history of the region. Under Derzhavin, several public schools, a theater, a printing house were opened (where the first provincial newspaper Tambovskiye Izvestiya in the Russian Empire was printed in 1788), a plan for Tambov was drawn up, order was put in place in office work, an orphanage, an almshouse and a hospital were founded.

In 1791-1793 he was the cabinet-secretary of Catherine II.

In 1793 he was appointed senator with the production of privy councillors.

From 1795 to 1796 - President of the Commerce Collegium.

In 1802-1803 he was Minister of Justice of the Russian Empire.

All this time, Derzhavin did not leave the literary field, creating the ode "God" (1784), "The thunder of victory, resound!" (1791, unofficial Russian anthem), "Velmozha" (1794), "Waterfall" (1798) and many others.

Gavriil Romanovich was friends with Prince S. F. Golitsyn and visited the Golitsyn estate in Zubrilovka. In the famous poem "Autumn during the siege of Ochakov" (1788), Derzhavin urged his friend to quickly take the Turkish fortress and return to his family:

And hurry up, Golitsyn!
Bring to your home with olive laurel.
Your wife is golden-haired,
Plenira heart and face,
For a long time the desired voice is waiting,
When you come to her house;
When you warmly embrace
You are your seven sons,
You will throw tender eyes on your mother
And in joy you will not find words.

On October 7, 1803, he was dismissed and released from all government posts (“dismissed from all affairs”).

In retirement, he settled in his estate Zvanka in the Novgorod province. In the last years of his life he was engaged in literary activity.

Derzhavin died in 1816 at his home on the Zvanka estate.

Family

At the beginning of 1778, Gavriil Romanovich married a 16-year-old Ekaterina Yakovlevna Bastidon(immortalized by him as Plenira), daughter of the former valet of Peter III, the Portuguese Bastidon.

In 1794, at the age of 34, she died suddenly. She was buried at the Lazarevsky cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg. Six months later, G. R. Derzhavin married Daria Alekseevna Dyakova(sung to them as Milena).

Derzhavin had no children from either his first or second marriage. In 1800, after the death of his friend, Pyotr Gavrilovich Lazarev, he takes care of his children, including Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, an outstanding admiral, discoverer of Antarctica, governor of Sevastopol.

In addition, the orphaned nieces of Daria Dyakova, the children of her sister Maria and the poet Nikolai Lvov, Elizaveta, Vera and Praskovya, were brought up in the house. Praskovya's diary contains interesting details about Derzhavin's family.

Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin and his second wife Daria Alekseevna (died in 1842) were buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutyn Monastery near Veliky Novgorod. .

During the Great Patriotic War, the monastery buildings were subjected to artillery fire and were in ruins for more than forty years. In 1959, the reburial of the remains of G. R. Derzhavin and his wife took place in the Novgorod Kremlin.

In 1993, after the completion of the restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky Monastery, dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the birth of G. R. Derzhavin, the remains of Gavriil Romanovich and Daria Alekseevna Derzhavins were returned from the Novgorod Kremlin to the crypts of the monastery.

Awards

“Old man Derzhavin noticed us. And, descending into the coffin, he blessed ”(A. S. Pushkin). Exam at the Imperial Lyceum in the painting by I. E. Repin

  • Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky;
  • Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree;
  • Order of St. Vladimir 2nd degree.
  • Order of Saint Anne 1st class
  • Order of St. John of Jerusalem Commander's Cross

Creation

The work of G. R. Derzhavin represents the pinnacle of Russian classicism by M. V. Lomonosov and A. P. Sumarokov.

The purpose of the poet, in the understanding of G. R. Derzhavin, is the glorification of great deeds and the condemnation of bad ones. In the ode "Felitsa" he glorifies the enlightened monarchy, which personifies the reign of Catherine II. The smart, fair empress is opposed to the greedy and mercenary court nobles:

Only you will not offend,
Don't offend anyone
You see foolishness through your fingers,
Only evil cannot be tolerated alone ...

The main object of Derzhavin's poetics is a person as a unique individuality in all the richness of personal tastes and predilections. Many of his odes are philosophical in nature, they discuss the place and purpose of man on earth, the problems of life and death:

I am the connection of the worlds everywhere,
I am the extreme degree of matter;
I am the center of the living
The trait of the initial deity;
I'm rotting in the ashes,
I command the thunders with my mind,
I am a king - I am a slave - I am a worm - I am God!
But being so wonderful
Where did it happen? - unknown:
And I couldn't be myself.
Ode "God", (1784)

Derzhavin creates a number of samples of lyrical poems in which the philosophical intensity of his odes is combined with emotional attitude to the events described. In the poem "Snigir" (1800), Derzhavin mourns his death:

What are you starting a war song
Like a flute, dear snigir?
With whom will we go to war against the Hyena?
Who is our leader now? Who is the rich man?
Where is strong, brave, fast Suvorov?
Severn thunders lie in a coffin.

Before his death, Derzhavin begins to write an ode to the RUIN OF CHORT, from which only the beginning has come down to us:

R eka of time in its striving
At wears all the affairs of people
AND drowns in the abyss of oblivion
H nations, kingdoms and kings.
A if anything remains
H cutting the sounds of the lyre and trumpet,
T about eternity will be devoured by the mouth
AND the common fate will not go away!

As noted by prof. Andrei Zorin, the merit of a new reading and a new discovery of Derzhavin belongs to " silver age» - readers of the second half 19th century treated his work as a long-outdated legend of bygone years.

Attitude towards fine arts

Picturesqueness is one of the main features of Derzhavin's poetry, which was called "talking painting". As E. Ya. Danko wrote, "Derzhavin had an extraordinary gift to penetrate the painter's intention and, in terms of this intention, create his own poetic images, more perfect than their primary sources." In 1788, in Tambov, Derzhavin had a collection of 40 engravings, including 13 sheets based on the originals by Angelica Kaufman and 11 sheets based on the originals by Benjamin West. Derzhavin fell under the spell of Kaufman's elegant, often sentimental neoclassicism, expressing his attitude towards the artist in the poem "To Angelica Kaufman" (1795):

The painting is glorious
Kaufman! Music friend!
If your brush is influenced
Above liveliness, feeling, taste ...

The presence of reproduced paintings by Benjamin West is explained by Derzhavin's interest in history. West, who received the official title of "His Majesty's Historical Painter" from George III, was one of the first painters to specialize in the historical genre. Of the 40 engravings collected by Derzhavin, 12 depicted the circumstances associated with the death of famous heroes and heroines of the past. Another 13 showed dramatic moments from ancient history and mythology. Derzhavin also had two works by the Russian artist Gavrila Skorodumov - Cleopatra and Artemisia.

perpetuation of memory

  • The name of G. R. Derzhavin was given to the Tambov State University.
  • The only square in Laishevo (Tatarstan) is called Derzhavinskaya.
  • One of the streets of Tambov is called Derzhavinskaya in honor of G. R. Derzhavin.
  • In Veliky Novgorod, on the Monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia" among 129 figures of the most prominent personalities in Russian history(for 1862) there is a figure of G. R. Derzhavin.
  • A memorial stele in the poet's homeland in the village of Derzhavino (Sokury).
  • Monument in Kazan, which existed in 1846-1932 and recreated in 2003.
  • Monument on Derzhavinskaya Square in Laishevo.
  • Monument in Tambov.
  • Monument, plaque, street and lyceum in Petrozavodsk.
  • Memorial sign in Zvanka (now on the territory of the Chudovsky district of the Novgorod region on the banks of the Volkhov river).
  • Museum-estate of G. R. Derzhavin and Russian literature of his time (118, Fontanka river embankment). Monument in St. Petersburg.
  • In Laishevo, the museum of local lore bears the name of the poet, to whom most of the museum's exposition is dedicated.
  • The following events are held annually in Laishevo: Derzhavin's holiday (since 2000), Derzhavin's readings with the presentation of the republican literary prize named after Derzhavin (since 2002), the All-Russian Literary Derzhavin Festival (since 2010).
  • Laishevsky district is often informally referred to as Derzhavin region.
  • A crater on Mercury is named after Derzhavin.
  • In 2003, the Tambov Regional Duma awarded Derzhavin the title of honorary citizen of the Tambov Region.
  • In 2016, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' and President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the opening ceremony of the monument to the Russian poet and statesman Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin on his small homeland near Kazan (the village of Kaipy), on the day of the 200th anniversary of the death of the poet.

Monument to the Governor of Olonets G. R. Derzhavin in the Governor's Park of Petrozavodsk (project by sculptor Walter Soini).

Monument to Gavrila Derzhavin at the entrance to the Lyadsky Garden of Kazan.

G. R. Derzhavin at the Monument "1000th Anniversary of Russia" in Veliky Novgorod.

Bibliography

  • Derzhavin G. Works. Part 1. M., 1798.
  • Derzhavin Gavrila Romanovich "Spiritual Odes" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 1. 1864" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 2. 1865" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 3. 1866" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 4. 1867" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 5. 1869" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 6. 1871" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 7. 1872" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 8. Life of Derzhavin. 1880" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich “Works. Ed. I. Grota. Volume 9. 1883" ImWerden Library
  • Derzhavin G. R. Poems, L., 1933. (Library of the poet. Large series)
  • Poems by G. R. Derzhavin. Leningrad., Soviet writer, 1957. (Library of the poet. Large series)
  • Poems by G. R. Derzhavin. Leningrad., 1981
  • Poems. Prose. (G. R. Derzhavin). Voronezh., 1980
  • Selected prose. (G. R. Derzhavin). Moscow., 1984

Literature

  • A. Zapadov. Derzhavin. M .: Young Guard, 1958 (ZhZL)
  • O. Mikhailov. Derzhavin. M.: Young guard, 1977 (ZhZL, issue 567), 336 p., 100,000 copies.
  • M. Guselnikova, M. Kalinin. Derzhavin and Zabolotsky. Samara: Samara University, 2008. - 298 p., 300 copies,
  • "There will never be a scoundrel" - Article by Ph.D. Y. Mineralova
  • Epstein E. M. G. R. Derzhavin in Karelia. - Petrozavodsk: "Karelia", 1987. - 134 p.: ill.
  • History of literature of Karelia. Petrozavodsk, 2000. V.3
  • History of Karelia from ancient times to the present day. Petrozavodsk, 2001
  • Korovin V.L. Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Church-Scientific Center "Orthodox Encyclopedia", 2007. - T. XIV. - S. 432–435. - 752 p. - 39,000 copies.


Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin occupies a significant place in Russian literature along with D.I. Fonvizin and M.V. Lomonosov. Together with these titans of Russian literature, he is included in the brilliant galaxy of the founders of Russian literature. classical literature the Age of Enlightenment in the second half of the 18th century. At this time, largely due to the personal participation of Catherine II, science and art were rapidly developing in Russia.

This is the time of the appearance of the first Russian universities, libraries, theaters, public museums and a relatively independent press, though very relative and for a short period, which ended with the advent of A.P. Radishchev. By this time, as Famusov Griboedova called it, "the age of the golden Catherine", the most fruitful period of the poet's activity belongs.

Life

Was born future poet July 14, 1743 in the Sokura family estate near Kazan.
Also in early childhood lost his father, an officer in the Russian army, and was brought up by his mother Fyokla Andreevna Kozlova. Derzhavin's life was bright and eventful, largely due to his mind, energy and character. There were incredible ups and downs. According to his biography, one could write an adventurous novel based on real events. But, more about everything.

Since 1762, as befits noble children, he was accepted into the Preobrazhensky Regiment as an ordinary guardsman. In 1772 he became an officer and from 1773 to 1775. took part in the suppression of the Pugachev rebellion. At this time, two completely opposite in meaning and improbability cases happen to him. During the Pugachev rebellion, he completely lost his fortune, but soon card game won 40,000 rubles.

Only in 1773 did his first poems see the light of day. This period of life includes some Interesting Facts his life. Like many officers, he did not shy away from revelry and cards, which almost deprived Russia of a great poet. Cards brought him to cheating, for the sake of money all sorts of unseemly tricks were committed. Fortunately, he was able to realize the perniciousness of this path in time and change his lifestyle.

In 1777 he retired from military service. Enters to serve as a State Councilor in the Senate. It is worth noting that he was an incorrigible truth-seeker, moreover, he did not particularly worship the authorities, for which he never enjoyed the love of the latter. From May 1784 to 1802 was on public service, including was from 1791-1793. cabinet secretary of Catherine II, however, the inability to open flatter and stop reports unpleasant to royal ears in time contributed to the fact that he stayed here for a short time. During the period of service, he reached the career of the Minister of Justice of the Russian Empire.

Thanks to his truth-loving and irreconcilable character, Gavriil Romanovich did not stay in each position for more than two years due to constant conflicts with thieving officials, which is evident from the chronology of his service. All attempts to achieve justice only irritated his high patrons.

During all this time I have been creative activity. The odes "God" (1784), "Thunder of victory, resound!" (1791, the unofficial anthem of Russia), well known to us from Pushkin's story "Dubrovsky", "Velmozha" (1794), "Waterfall" (1798) and many others.
After his retirement, he lived in his family estate Zvanka in the Novgorod province, where he devoted all his time to creativity. He passed away on July 8, 1816.

Literary creativity

Derzhavin became widely known in 1782 for the publication of the ode Felitsa, dedicated to the empress. Early works - an ode to the marriage of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, published in 1773. In general, in the work of the poet, the ode occupies one of the leading places. His odes have come down to us: “On the death of Bibikov”, “On the noble”, “On the birthday of Her Majesty”, etc. In the first compositions, one can feel an undisguised imitation of Lomonosov. Over time, he moved away from this and adopted, as a model for his odes, the works of Horace. He posted his writings mainly in the Saint Petersburg Bulletin. These are: “Songs to Peter the Great” (1778), an epistol to Shuvalov, “On the death of Prince Meshchersky”, “Key”, “On the birth of a porphyry child” (1779), “On the absence of the empress to Belarus”, “To the first neighbor”, “ Rulers and Judges" (1780).

The lofty tone, lively pictures of these works attracted the attention of writers. The poet attracted the attention of society with his "Ode to Felitsa", dedicated to the queen. A snuff box studded with diamonds and 50 gold coins were the reward for the ode, thanks to which he was noticed by the queen and the public. The odes “On the Capture of Ishmael” and “Waterfall” brought him no less success. The meeting and close acquaintance with Karamzin led to cooperation in Karamzin's Moscow Journal. Here his “Monument to the Hero”, “On the Death of Countess Rumyantseva”, “Majesty of God” were printed.

Shortly before the departure of Catherine II, Derzhavin presented her with his handwritten collection of works. This is remarkable. After all, the flowering of the poet's talent fell precisely on the period of her reign. In fact, his work has become a living monument to the reign of Catherine II. In the last years of his life, he tried to experiment with tragedies, epigrams and fables, but they do not have the same height as his poetry.

Criticism has been mixed. From reverence to almost complete denial of his work. Only the works of D. Grog dedicated to Derzhavin that appeared after the revolution, his efforts to publish the works and biography of the poet made it possible to evaluate his work.
Derzhavin for us is the first poet of that era, whose poems can be read without additional comments and explanations.

Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin was born on July 3, 1743 in Kazan, into a family of small estate nobles. He lost his father early, his mother and children were left virtually without funds. The boy studied with home teachers, then entered the gymnasium, but without graduating from it, he was called up for military service. Thus, he did not receive a systematic education.
For 12 years Derzhavin served as a common soldier in the Preobrazhensky Regiment in St. Petersburg. Participated in palace coup 1762, who placed Catherine II on the throne. Already as an officer, he was an active participant in the hostilities against Pugachev.
Although for several years Derzhavin was bypassed with awards, in the end he received a rather prominent position in the Senate and in 1778 he married a 16-year-old girl, Ekaterina Yakovlevna Bastidon. The marriage was happy, in verse Derzhavin sang his wife under the name of Plenira. On her death in 1793, he wrote a heartfelt poem "The Swallow". He himself explained the quick second marriage with Daria Alekseevna Dyakova not by love, love, but "so that, remaining a widower, he would not become dissolute." There were no children from either the first or the second marriage.
Decisive and courageous, independent in his judgments, Derzhavin invariably aroused sharp displeasure on the part of his superiors. In the Senate, he fought for real representation on the State Revenue Report, which led to a very quick resignation. He was appointed governor of Olonets, but stayed in Petrozavodsk for less than a year, was transferred (also not for long) to Tambov. The pages of Derzhavin's Notes, dedicated to the period of governorship in Tambov, speak of the poet's extraordinary service energy and ardent desire to bring all possible benefits, as well as his efforts to spread education among Tambov society. However, this energy very soon led to a clash with the authorities here as well. In a dispute with the governor, the Senate did not support Derzhavin - not only removed him from office, but opened a case against him. The empress closed the case, but did not confirm his innocence and did not reinstate him in his position, but simply ordered him to pay a salary.
His odes, however, pleased Catherine and her favorites. In 1791 Derzhavin was appointed Secretary of State to the Empress. This was a sign of extraordinary mercy; but the service here, too, was unsuccessful for Derzhavin. He failed to please the empress, because she demanded new poems, and he tried to fight the “clerical hook-work squad” that resented him, carried piles of papers to Catherine, demanded her attention to the complicated cases related to the corruption of courtiers and senior officials. Palace intrigues, non-execution of laws, as Derzhavin admitted, prevented him from praising the empress as ardently and sincerely as before. He was also harmed by excessive ardor and lack of court tact.
Derzhavin served as Secretary of State for less than 2 years. In 1793, he was appointed senator (which was an honorable removal from service under the empress), but very soon quarreled with all his colleagues. He was distinguished by zeal and zeal for the service, he sometimes went to the Senate even on Sundays and holidays.
After the accession of Paul I, Derzhavin was first subjected to persecution, but then, with an ode to the accession to the throne of the emperor, he returned his favor. The poet receives honorary commissions, becomes a knight of the Order of Malta.
In 1802-1803, in connection with the transformation of the state apparatus, Alexander I appointed Derzhavin, the first Minister of Justice in the history of Russia, while simultaneously performing the functions of the Prosecutor General. Two weeks later, the poet offered several reports to the Senate - on the rules of legal proceedings, on the procedure for hearing cases, on the arbitration court. He hoped to put a stop to bribes and create an impartial court. But such activity again did not please the authorities. In addition, Derzhavin openly expressed disagreement with the reformist aspirations of the emperor and censured his young advisers. He held the position for only a year and was sent into full retirement. To a direct question why he was being fired, the emperor frankly replied: "You serve very zealously."
Last years The poet spent his life mainly in the village of Zvanka. Living in the winters in St. Petersburg, he, together with A.S. Shishkov founded in 1811 a literary society: "Conversation of lovers of the Russian word."
Derzhavin died on July 8, 1816 in Zvanka and was buried in the Khutyn Monastery, not far from Novgorod.
Derzhavin began to write poems very early, in the 70s they were already published in magazines, albeit anonymously. But fame came only in 1783, after the appearance of the “Ode to Felitsa” addressed to Catherine II. The heyday of his poetic activity falls on the 80-90s. In 1784, the ode "God" was completed, which, among Derzhavin's spiritual odes, is considered the highest manifestation his talent; it has been translated into German, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Japanese and other languages. In 1796, the "Monument" was published, one of the most famous imitations in our literature of the famous ode of Horace.
Derzhavin's biographer, poet V.L. Khodasevich wrote "poetry and service became for him, as it were, two fields of a single civil feat." Indeed, both in poetry and in state activities, the poet boldly spoke out against abuse and lawlessness. “It is the duty of a poet to tell the truth to the world,” he said. “Ode to Felitsa”, “Nobleman” are both odes and satires. Derzhavin became one of the founders of civil poetry - the forerunner of both Radishchev and Pushkin. At the same time, the heroism of the time, the brilliant victories of Russian weapons, were clearly reflected in his poems. In the odes “On the Capture of Ishmael”, “On the Crossing of the Alps”, Derzhavin glorifies not only the remarkable Russian commanders Rumyantsev and Suvorov, but also ordinary soldiers, as he himself was in his youth. He can also be considered one of the first Russian poets to recreate privacy and life of his era.