Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences

ISSN 2713–3133 [6+]

Founder — Institute of Philology, SB RAS

Studies in Theory of Literary Plot and Narratology

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For specialists in literature and folklor


DOI: 10.25205/2410-7883 Roskomnadzor certificate number Эл № ФС 77-84792
Syuzhetologiya i Syuzhetografiya

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Article

Name: The Story of the Maiden Laciona as a Russian Handwritten Tale from the Reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. Part 2: Events in the Family of Count M. I. Vorontsov

Authors: L. A. Kurysheva

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Literary Life of the Plot

Issue 2, 2026	Pages 27-51
UDK: 821.161.1, 82-31, 82-32, 930.85, 75.045, 75.046, 75.052	DOI: 10.25205/2713-3133-2026-2-27-51

Abstract:

This article posits a hypothesis linking the 18th-century literary manuscript, The Story of the Maiden Laciona to significant events within the family of Count M. I. Vorontsov. In search of a possible origin of depicting Venus's descent from the heavens, we turned to monumental paintings and theatrical productions. This search led us to Giuseppe Tiepolo’s ceiling painting The Triumph of Venus, created for Chancellor Vorontsov’s palace. The painting celebrated empress Elizabeth (Elizaveta Petrovna) as the goddess of beauty.

Comparing the vision in The Story with Tiepolo’s work, we hypothesize that the unknown writer was inspired by the Italian master and attempted to translate the impression of movement in the air into words, depicting the Empress-Venus’s visit to the Vorontsov palace. While both works share central characters, their setting differ, apparently reflecting the author’s intention to strengthening the monarchical features in Venus’s image and emphasize her role as a connector of lovers’ hearts, a matchmaker.

As is well known, another literary work – M. V. Lomonosov’s poem I See Fortune in You or Venus... (1759) – was also inspired by Tiepolo’s work, exhibiting curious parallels with The Story. Both texts portray Elizabeth as a royal patron goddess and allude to the Judgment of Paris. The association of Venus with the empress’s public mythological persona emerged early, notably featured in her coronation allegorical ballet, The Golden Apple at the Feast of the Gods and the Judgment of Paris, which narrated the story of Venus receiving the golden apple. Certain features of The Story suggest it is a veiled narrative (a tale in clef), recounting the union of lovers through the patronage of Elizabeth. It contains many details and allusions that were understood only by a select circle of insiders. Historical accounts confirm the empress’s active involvement in her entourage’s affairs and her enjoyment of arranging marriages. If we accept the hypothesis linking The Story to the appearance of Tiepolo’s ceiling paintings in the chancellor’s palace, then the marriage of the palace owner’s niece, E. R. Vorontsova, appears to be a relatively close event. She met Prince M. I. Dashkov in the summer of 1758, and the wedding took place in February 1759. This hypothesis requires further evidence.

Keywords: Russian literature of the 18th century, handwritten fiction, ekphrasis, Elizaveta Petrovna, G. Tiepolo, M. I. Vorontsov, E. R. Dashkova, M. V. Lomonosov, Jacob von Stählin, opera “La Climenza di Tito”

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