Wednesdays of Smirnova-Rosset

Categories / Literature. Book Publishing/Salons, Circles, Creative Associations and Unions
WEDNESDAYS OF SMIRNOVA-ROSSET were held in the Salon of Alexandra Osipovna Smirnova, born Rosset (1809 or 1810-1882) during the end of the 1820s to the beginning of the 1830s, held at first in the rooms of ladies in waiting on the third floor of the Winter Palace (Rosset was a lady in waiting of Empress Maria Fedorovna), then at 48 Liteiny Avenue. Wednesdays continued the tradition of spontaneous communication of members of Arzamas. N. V. Gogol, V. A. Zhukovsky, Mikhail Lermontov, V. F. Odoevsky, Alexander Pushkin, P. A. Pletnev were among constant participants of the gatherings. The Wednesdays did not have a definite programme - everything was concentrating round the bright personality of the mistress who had a vivid interest for the Russian philology from youth, spoke splendidly and wrote in Russian knowing several foreign languages in addition. Many of those present devoted verses to her. The salon was also visited by clergy, guards" officers and diplomats.

References: Смирнова-Россет А. О. Дневник. Воспоминания. М., 1989; Жерихина Е. И. Зимний сезон в светских и литературных салонах Петербурга пушкинской поры // С.-Петерб. ун-т. 2000. №7. С. 22-24; Колосова Н. Россети черноокая. М., 2003.

D. N. Akhapkin. Gogol Nikolay Vasilievich
Lermontov Mikhail Yurievich
Maria Fedorovna, Empress
Odoevsky Vladimir Fedorovich
Pletnev Peter Alexandrovich
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Smirnova-Rosset Alexandra Osipovna
Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich
Liteiny Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 48
Смирнова-Россет А. О. Дневник. Воспоминания. М., 1989
Жерихина Е. И. Зимний сезон в светских и литературных салонах Петербурга пушкинской поры // С.-Петерб. ун-т, 2000