A Boyar Wedding Feast is a painting by Konstantin Makovsky that showcases a very important social event in old Russia, a wedding feast that united two prominent Boyar families. In a richly decorated room, the lavishly attired guests (with gold trimmings in their clothing) are caught in the key moment of the event – the groom is about to kiss the bride during a toast, as a dish of fried swan, in turn the symbol of fertility, is presented by one of the servants. As everyone cheers the couple on, the groom is trying to turn the bride to his side, while the matchmaker is seen behind the bride, prompting her to action. However, the bride herself is looking down shyly, almost with a sad or resigned expression. The unspoken feeling is that she should be happy to get married and it is unlikely that her own wishes in the matter were ever considered.

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