Maria Viktorovna Shpak-Benois 1870–1891
Among the great Russian painters of the 19th century was St. Petersburg-born Maria Viktorovna Shpak-Benois. Even at a young age, she used colours and depicted light in her paintings skillfully. Her famous self-portrait is exhibited at the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
In the spring of 1891, Maria arrived in Puumala to celebrate the birthday of her father-in-law, painter Albert Benois. Maria had already fallen ill in St. Petersburg and passed away while they were staying in a rented cabin at Vesiniemi in Puumala.
Maria Viktorovna Shpak-Benois was buried at the old cemetery on the west side of the church of Puumala.
Contact details
Puumala Old Cemetary
Kirkkotie 1, Puumala
+358 (0)15 775 330 0
