Sophie Stroganova

[2] She translated Dante's Divine Comedy into Russian and became a lady in waiting at court as well as a close friend to the German-born empress Elizabeth Alexeievna.

She rebuilt and embellished Maryino Estate near Andrianovo and Saint Petersburg and had Alexandre Teplaoukhov design a park for it.

After the deaths of her husband and only son, she inherited most of the Stroganov residences and estates, which she rebuilt or embellished on advice from the architect Charov, whose admission to the Saint Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts she had ensured and whose studies she financed.

She also founded a school for agriculture, landscape art and forestry in Saint Petersburg (1823–1844) and set up a pension fund for her servants and workers.

She took part in the Scientific and Economic Society, known for its liberal ideals, and designed a gold medal for its competitions.