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Nataly FrizenhofNieces of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin
Date of Birth: 21.04.1854
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Biography of Natalia Fogel von Frizengof
- Marriage and Life in St. Petersburg.
- Second Marriage and the Birth of a Daughter.
Biography of Natalia Fogel von Frizengof
Childhood and Youth. Dreams of the Future Duchess of Brodziany.Natalia, or Tasha, as she was called by her family, Fogel von Frizengof was born into a noble family. Her parents were Austrian diplomat and landowner Baron Gustav Fogel von Frizengof, who was married for the second time to Duchess Alexandra Nikolayevna Goncharova, a maid of honor at the Russian imperial court and the niece of the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. The acquaintance of Baron Gustav with the Pushkin-Goncharov family dates back to his first marriage to Natalia Ivanovna Zagryazhskaya, the illegitimate cousin of the Goncharov sisters and daughter of their uncle Alexander Ivanovich Zagryazhsky. Unfortunately, Natalia Ivanovna's mother remains unknown. However, there were many rumors about her, including one that she was the daughter of the maid of honor Ekaterina Ivanovna Zagryazhskaya and Emperor Alexander I, known for his appreciation of female beauty. These legends are still preserved in the walls of the Brodziany castle. But they are not so important, because royal orphanhood does not differ from the usual kind. Alexander Ivanovich died early, and Natalia, who was not even given her father's patronymic, was raised by her aunt, Alexander Ivanovich's sister, Countess Sophia Ivanovna de Mestra. Sophia was a dry and fussy woman, but extremely intelligent, who hid her warm heart deep in the recesses of her soul and gave it quietly to her niece, a slender, thoughtful girl with big eyes and a high forehead, not very beautiful, but possessing the delicate gift of charm, charm, and liveliness of mind, developed by daily patient lessons with her stepfather, a French emigrant, historian, and philosopher, Count Joseph-Xavier de Mestra. It did not take much effort for her to ensnare the young and promising diplomat Gustav Frizengof. Their acquaintance and marriage, which took place in Naples in 1836, were described in the documents with an unknown exact date.
Marriage and Life in St. Petersburg.
In 1839, Baron Gustav Frizengof was appointed attaché at the Austrian embassy in St. Petersburg, and the Mestra-Frizengof family moved to Russia. The young couple's house in St. Petersburg was always full of people, both acquaintances and strangers, who were genuinely interested in everything and everyone, and without hesitation offered help to friends and acquaintances. Alexander Nikolaevna Goncharova, Natalia's cousin, and the widow of the poet Alexander Pushkin, was highly valued and loved by the Frizengofs. They tried to help her in any way they could, especially after the tragic death of the poet. The archives of the Pushkin House in St. Petersburg contain piles of letters and diary entries from Natalia Nikolaevna Pushkina to Natalia Frizengof, as well as meticulous answers from the baroness. In one of her letters, the poet's widow confidentially wrote: "I regret, dear Natalia, that you are living in a foreign country without friends. True friends are rare, and one always feels grateful to those who take the trouble to appear as such. You can at least say that you left true friends here; they sincerely sympathize with you!" This was written in the autumn of 1841, and perhaps behind these lines was a warm, grateful memory of the August days spent together with the Frizengofs in Mikhailovskoye, where Natalia Nikolaevna and her children stayed with the Frizengofs. In a large herbarium album collected by both "Natashas," in addition to dried leaves with careful inscriptions in French, there are also charming pencil and ink drawings made by Baroness Frizengof herself. These drawings are now widely known and are featured in many publications dedicated to Alexander Pushkin and his circle.
Second Marriage and the Birth of a Daughter.
Alexandra Nikolayevna Goncharova never regretted her marriage, and living with Baron Gustav, an intelligent and tactful person who almost worshiped her, was easy for her. However, their daughter later recalled that she had never seen her mother laughing. But...every heart has its secrets. Their marriage was interesting and filled with shared memories of the beloved Natalia Ivanovna, as well as dreams of their future together. From their correspondence, it can be understood that Baron Gustav accompanied his unexpected and hasty bride on a trip abroad, and she, in turn, accompanied her sick sister, General's wife N.N. Pushkina-Lanskaya, and her older nieces, Maria and Alexandra. The letters from Baron Gustav to Alexandra Nikolaevna in the second half of 1851 and the beginning of 1852 contain a few lines: "I love you, my dear, as always, and it would be impossible to love you more or less." "Is it true, dear friend of my heart, that you love me as before? I would be the happiest of men if I were completely sure." And finally, a decisive and important moment for both of them: "In a month, my Alexandrina, it will be April 6th, your heart rejoices..." Here, the baron undoubtedly speaks of the already appointed wedding day. It did indeed take place on that day in 1852 in Vienna, in the presence of close relatives and friends. Two years later, with a difference of only two days, their daughter Natalia was born in their Viennese mansion on April 8/21, 1854. She was named not only in honor of the beautiful sister of the new mistress of the Brodziany estate, but also in memory of their first owner, who had left so prematurely and had so inexorably linked the seemingly completely unrelated destinies.
