Aurora Karamzin and the Stages of Power

Exhibition at Espoo City Museum WeeGee House 12 May 2006 – 3 June 2007

The exhibition “Aurora Karamzin and the Stages of Power” recounts a magnificent tale of the life of 19th-century aristocracy. The dramatic life story of Aurora Karamzin (1808–1902), one of the best-known Finns of her day, is in itself a fascinating subject, and the exhibition further provides insights into the history of Finland, Russia and Europe in Aurora’s time.

The life and times of Aurora Karamzin

Aurora Karamzin was born at Saari Manor near Ulvila in southern Finland in 1808 as the Finnish War (1808–09) raged. Her parents were Lieutenant Colonel Carl Johan Stjernvall and Eva von Willebrand. The family relocated to Vyborg in 1812, when C.J. Stjernvall was appointed Governor of Vyborg province. Aurora’s father passed away in 1815; mother Eva remained in Vyborg with her four young children and married newly appointed Governor Carl Johan Walleen the following year. In 1820, the family moved to Helsinki, recently designated capital of the Grand Duchy, when Walleen was made Senator. It was also then that the family acquired Träskända Manor in Espoo as a summer residence.

Young Aurora was introduced to Helsinki society in 1824 at the age of 16. The beautiful debutante was soon being courted by Alexander Muhanoff, adjutant to the Governor General. Aurora’s parents frowned upon the liaison, however. Aurora’s younger sister Emilie had entered society shortly after her and found an admirer in Count Mušin-Puškin, a wealthy Russian of whom her parents did approve. Emilie’s marriage meant Aurora would spend much time in St Petersburg and Moscow, where she also again encountered her childhood sweetheart Muhanoff. Aurora arrived in Träskända from Russia to make wedding preparations only to have her fiancé die tragically on the eve of the wedding.

Aurora had been appointed lady-in-waiting in 1830 and in 1835 she was invited to the imperial court to join the Empress’ entourage. She was the only Finnish woman ever to hold the title of lady-in-waiting in the entourage and gained immense popularity both in court and with the imperial family. While at court, Aurora was romantically pursued by Paul Demidoff, Huntmaster of the Court and one of the wealthiest men in all Russia. Aurora turned down Demidoff’s proposal of marriage twice before finally relenting after Empress Alexandra Fjodorovna intervened on Demidoff’s behalf. The wedding of Aurora and Paul Demidoff was held in Helsinki on 21 November 1836.

The vast Demidoff family fortune derived from mines and industrial plants in the Nizhnij Tagil region on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains. The Demidoffs were renowned for their charitable work. In keeping with the family tradition of benefaction, a huge donation was made in Aurora Demidoff’s name on the occasion of their marriage to fund the schooling and dowries of poor Helsinki girls and women. Aurora received from her husband as a morning-gift a magnificent string of pearls as well as the Sancy Diamond. The pear-shaped Sancy was the world’s seventh largest diamond at the time.

Paul Demidoff was already in poor health when the couple married. The two spent much time at central European spas in the hope of restoring his health, but in spring 1840 Paul Demidoff succumbed to his illnesses in Mainz, Germany. Their son Paul was only six months old at the time.

The widowed Aurora inherited her late husband’s fortune jointly with their son Paul. Their inheritance comprised not only the vast industrial holdings but also two palaces in St Petersburg. Soon after losing her husband, Aurora purchased Träskända Manor in Espoo from her stepfather and set out to remake this place she had cherished to her own liking. During her era, the manor park was transformed into the most magnificent in Finland. Aurora owned Träskända up to 1895 when she sold it to a relative.

Aurora’s second marriage to Andrei Karamzin in 1846 was a marriage of love. The union was at first strongly opposed by Aurora’s family, as Andrei Karamzin was Aurora’s junior, had illegitimate children and was thought to be of insufficient social standing considering Aurora’s great personal wealth. The couple had eight happy years together until Colonel Karamzin was killed in the Crimean War in 1845. Despite Aurora’s fervent hopes the marriage was childless.

Aurora Karamzin was the wealthiest woman in Finland until relinquishing her share in the Demidoff businesses to her son Paul in 1862. She remained very well off despite her income from the Demidoff businesses decreasing especially after the death of her son Paul in Italy in 1885, at the age of only 45. Paul had inherited the principality of San Donato near Florence from his uncle Anatoli and resided there at the time of his death.

Aurora Karamzin was a renowned benefactor already in her lifetime. As the spouse of Paul Demidoff, a great patron of charitable causes, Aurora’s status alone dictated that she give to charity but for Aurora, charitable works became much more than mere duty. She embraced charity as her life’s work and pursued her goals with characteristic vigour. Aurora Karamzin engaged in charitable work both in Finland and Russia: she founded schools, hospitals, poorhouses and children’s homes and provided financial and other support to many private individuals as well. She is particularly famed for establishing the Helsinki Deaconess Institute. Aurora’s charitable activities both in Espoo and Helsinki were remarkable for their time.

Aurora Karamzin’s funeral was held in Helsinki on 17 May 1902. Vast crowds lined the streets to see her funeral cortège pass by. The first to lay wreaths on the grave were representatives of Emperor Nicholas II and the Dowager Empress. The many eulogies highlighted Aurora Karamzin’s great significance to Finns, referring to her as, “a helper of the poor, comfort to the mourning, refuge for the young, example to the old and honour to her country!”

Stages, treasures and activities at the exhibition

Visitors to the exhibition are introduced to the various stages of Aurora Karamzin’s life: the Vyborg of her childhood, the Träskända Manor of happy summer memories and the St Petersburg court in its shades of green malachite. The exhibition also presents the Demidoff’s industrial activities, Aurora’s charitable works and her travels in Europe.

A splendid focal point of the exhibition is a fabulous replica of the official court dress worn by ladies-in-waiting in Aurora’s time. The exhibition also features jewellery and portraits from Aurora’s era.

The objects relating to the life and times of Aurora Karamzin have been obtained from several Finnish and international museums as well as various institutes and numerous private owners. We wish to extend our gratitude especially to the State Hermitage Museum, State Museum of the History of St Petersburg and Pavlovsky Palace Museum in Russia and to the Hillwood Museum in Washington D.C.

In addition to spectacular items never before seen in Finland, the exhibition also features many fascinating displays and activities that bring history to life for visitors young and old.

The two unique scale models at the exhibition provide a fascinating peek into history. One represents Träskända Manor on the day Emperor Alexander II visited the manor while in Finland to open the Diet in 1863, the other includes means of transport from Aurora’s time such as trains, horse-drawn carriages and ships moving against a backdrop of picturesque landscapes. Real enough to make you feel like hopping aboard!

A DVD compilation on Träskända Manor and Park will be continuously running at the exhibition. The museum has also produced a documentary on Aurora that may be viewed at the exhibition or bought at the museum shop for €18.00.

The Drawing Room workshop arranged in conjunction with the exhibition allows visitors to learn the secrets of 19th-century style and experiment with various headdresses, fans, walking sticks and the like. Children may also try on corsets, which in Aurora’s time were worn by girls and boys alike. The workshop offers both independent and guided activities.

A host of other events including lectures, guided workshops, dance and musical performances for adults and children alike will be arranged in conjunction with the exhibition. Theatre is also included in the form of the “Visit” troupe of actors featuring Aurora’s son Paul Demidoff and Aurora’s chambermaid Lina Lax, who explore history through dramatic means. Visitors to the museum might well receive a calling card from the charming Paul or hear the inside gossip from Lina…

An illustrated exhibition catalogue is available in Finnish and Swedish as well as in English and Russian. The price of the catalogue is €12.00.

source: Espoo City Museum