Paul
Basic Information
Paul was Marie Bashkirtseff's younger brother, 14 years old in 1874, who lived with the family in Nice. He was close in age to Marie but severely neglected in his education and corrupted by bad influences.
Significance in Marie Bashkirtseff's Life
Paul served multiple roles in Marie's daily life:
- Shopping Companion: Accompanied Marie on shopping expeditions, including purchasing gifts for feast days
- Riding Companion: Regular morning rides, though he sometimes refused out of spite
- Family Mediator: Sometimes took Marie's side in family disputes
- Social Participant: Attended dinners and social events with the family
His presence provided Marie with a peer companion, though she harshly criticized his degradation:
- Ignorant and barely literate ("sait à peine écrire et lire")
- Corrupted by servants, especially cook Adam
- Frequents cafés, theaters, and actresses
- Out until early morning hours
- Only studies 2 hours per day
- Mother powerless to control him
Historical Context
In aristocratic Russian families, it was common for extended family members to live together or spend long periods visiting. Young male relatives often served as appropriate escorts for unmarried female family members, providing a respectable alternative to going out only with female chaperones.
Mentions in the Diary
1873
- September 18: Dines with Marie and Bête
- September 19: Takes the reins when Marie must dismount, becomes furious
- September 23: Doesn't stay during theater intermissions
- September 28: Goes to Monaco to practice pigeon shooting
- September 29: Accompanies Marie shopping for feast day gifts at Samuels
1874
- March 21: Morning horseback rides with Marie
- March 22: Rides with Marie to Villa 55
- March 24: Refuses to ride with Marie out of spite. Marie's devastating portrait: "maigre, pâle, nonchalant, et parfois ennuyeux comme un moustique" (thin, pale, nonchalant, sometimes annoying as a mosquito). Barely literate, spends time with cook Adam, cafés, actresses. Out until 2-3 AM. Only 14 years old but "usé autant qu'on peut l'être" (worn out as much as one can be).