Watchmen Singing Praises

Solomatkin L.I.

1837, Sudzha (Kursk Province)/Ukraine (?)-1883, St Petersburg

Watchmen Singing Praises

1870

Canvas, oil. 42,5 х 59
Ж-1419
Пост. в 1927 от А. И. Шустера

Location in museum The Mikhailovsky Palace, Room 22 Open the panorama of the hall in the virtual tour
Period Late 19th century
CategoryGenre Painting
Keywords The Epoch of Alexander II (1855-1881) | male costume | female costume | theatrical costume | головные уборы | holidays, parades | театр | игра | вечер | ночь | зима | Dogs | musical instruments
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The painting depicts the arrival of the watchmen singing praises in the family of a wealthy official. The two weeks following Christmas were a time of joy, of different rituals and amusements. Masquerades were a widespread custom. The people used to put on masks and cloaks. This was due to the popular belief that demons, who were wandering the earth during the eight days following Christmas, were able to torture a man if he was not disguised as the devil in order to deceive him. The masqueraders, who scared the demons, passed from house to house, where they were received with food and drinks.

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