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Field Visit
Date 21 November 2006
Event ID 612370
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/612370
Semi-abstract sculpture of an adult male and a child on horseback.
The title is a reference to the sculptors name.
Boris Godunov (c.1551-1605), was Czar of Russia between 1598 and 1605. A favorite of Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible), he helped organize Ivan's social and administrative system. After Ivan's death in 1584, he became virtual ruler of Russia, ostensibly as regent for Ivan's young son Feodor I, who was married to Boris's sister. He was popularly believed to have ordered the murder in 1591 of Feodor's younger brother and heir, Dmitri, in order to secure the succession for himself. Upon Feodor's death in 1598, an assembly of the ruling class chose him as Czar. Under his rule the Russian church was recognized (1589) as an independent patriarchate, equal to other Eastern churches; peace was obtained with Poland and Sweden, and colonization of the southern steppes and West Siberia was spurred. Most important, he continued Ivan's policy of strengthening the power of state officials and townspeople at the expense of the boyars. Yet famine (1602-4) and popular distrust undermined his support, and when a pretender to the throne appeared claiming to be Feodor's brother Dmitri, many rallied to his support and he easily invaded Russia in 1604. Boris died, and his son, Feodor II, was unable to defend the throne against the false Dmitri.
His life is the subject of a drama by Pushkin that was the basis for Moussorgsky's famous opera.
Inscriptions : On card attached to front of pedestal: ROYAL EDINBURGH HOSPITAL / MARIE GOODENOUGH / BORIS GODUNOV
Signatures : None
Year of unveiling : 1992
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0088)
