Serf Collection

The grape harvest at the Chateau de Saumur (Loire Valley, France) in September
BOOK OF HOURS: SEPTEMBER. The grape harvest at the Chateau de Saumur (Loire Valley, France) in September. Illumination from the 15th century manuscript of the Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry

Feudal lord instructing peasant workers
Peasants receiving their lords orders before going to work, 1400s. Hand-colored 19th-century woodcut reproduction of a manuscript miniature illustration

Keeping warm by a farm fireside in February. Illumination from the 15th century manuscript of the Tres Riches Heures
BOOK OF HOURS: FEBRUARY. Keeping warm by a farm fireside in February. Illumination from the 15th century manuscript of the Tres Riches Heures, of Jean, Duke of Berry

Russian women and a Finn
Russian women from the Ryazan region (left) and St Petersburg (right), and a Finnish woman (seated). Antique hand-colored print

Peasant paying rent in the late Middle Ages
Tenant paying rent, from a book of surveying printed in England, 1523. Hand-colored 19th-century woodcut reproduction of an earlier illustration

Plowing with oxen and pruning vines in March. Illumination from the 15th century manuscript of the Tres Riches Heures
BOOK OF HOURS: MARCH. Plowing with oxen and pruning vines in March. Illumination from the 15th century manuscript of the " Tres Riches Heures" of Jean, Duke of Berry

Les Boyards réduits a cultiver... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Les Boyards reduits a cultiver... 19th century. The boyars are reduced to cultivating their land themselves, after their last serfs are recruited into the army

"The Russian Serf", painted by Joseph J. Jenkins - from the Exhibition of the Society of... 1854
"The Russian Serf", painted by Joseph J. Jenkins - from the Exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water-colours, 1854

The Emancipation of the serfs in 1861, 1861. Found in the collection of I. Turgenev Memorial Museum, Moscow

Unforgettable day of the Emancipation of the serfs in 1861, 1865. Artist: Russian Master
Unforgettable day of the Emancipation of the serfs in 1861, 1865. Found in the collection of State History Museum, Moscow

Agriculture in the Middle Ages
Peasants sowing and cultivating fields outside a walled town in the Middle Ages. Printed halftone reproduction of a medieval manuscript miniature

Medieval peasant
Peasant carrying a shovel in the 1400s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

Ms 1044 Fol. 74 The Wheel of Fortune, from Ovide Moralise written by Chretien Legouais
XIR177844 Ms 1044 Fol.74 The Wheel of Fortune, from Ovide Moralise written by Chretien Legouais (vellum) by French School, (14th century); Bibliotheque Municipale, Rouen

Emelian Ivanovich Pugachev (c. 1742-75) in prison (engraving) (b / w photo)
CHT207899 Emelian Ivanovich Pugachev (c.1742-75) in prison (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School, (18th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Villains receiving their Lords Orders before going to Work
KW260577 Villains receiving their Lords Orders before going to Work, after a miniature in a 15th century manuscript, from Le Moyen Age et La Renaissance by Paul Lacroix (1806-84)

The Emancipation of Russian Serfs in 1861, 1908-09 (oil on canvas)
1555179 The Emancipation of Russian Serfs in 1861, 1908-09 (oil on canvas) by Kustodiev, Boris Mikhailovich (1878-1927); State Art Museum, Nizhny Novgorod

Peasants giving tithes, Alpine region, c. 1800-18 (coloured engraving)
468768 Peasants giving tithes, Alpine region, c.1800-18 (coloured engraving) by Italian School, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; Italian, out of copyright

King Malcolm of Scotland Observes Agricultural Labour, 1586 (woodcut) (b / w photo)
XJF137009 King Malcolm of Scotland Observes Agricultural Labour, 1586 (woodcut) (b/w photo) by English School, (16th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Tsar and boyars, 1907. Creator: Lebedev, Klavdi Vasilyevich (1852-1916)
Tsar and boyars, 1907. Private Collection

Allegory of Servitude. Creator: Padovanino (1588-1649)
Allegory of Servitude. Found in the Collection of Musei Vaticani in Viale Vaticano, Rome

The Reapers, c1830, (1939). Creator: Aleksey Venetsianov
The Reapers, c1830, (1939). Russian peasants with sickles and butterflies. Alexei Venetsianov (1780-1847) established his own school of painting and appointed court painter by Tsar Nicholas I

The decree of Emperor Alexander II (1818-1881) to the Emancipation of the serfs, 1861. Found in the collection of Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA)

Before departure, 1920. Private Collection

The Emancipation Manifesto of 3 March 1861. Found in the Collection of Russian State Historical Library, Moscow

The Reading the Emancipation Manifesto of 1861, Third Quarter of 19th cen.. Found in the collection of I. Turgenev Memorial Museum, Moscow

Alexander II Proclaiming the Emancipation of the Serfs. Private Collection

The Abolition of Serfdom in Russia, 1914. Artist: Mucha, Alfons Marie (1860-1939)
The Abolition of Serfdom in Russia, 1914. Found in the collection of City Gallery Prague

Landlord and his Serfs, 1853. Artist: Trutovsky, Konstantin Alexandrovich (1826-1893)
Landlord and his Serfs, 1853. Found in the collection of State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Yuris Day (Saint George Day), 1908. Artist: Ivanov, Sergei Vasilyevich (1864-1910)
Yuris Day (Saint George Day), 1908. Private Collection

Applicants, 1888. Artist: Zhuravlev, Firs Sergeevich (1836-1901)
Applicants, 1888. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Behind the curtain in the serf theatre. Artist: Trutovsky, Konstantin Alexandrovich (1826-1893)
Behind the curtain in the serf theatre. Found in the collection of the State Museum of Theatre and Music Art, St. Petersburg

Cherry harvest in a landowners fruit garden in the Ukraine, 1858. Artist: Sokolov, Ivan Ivanovich (1823-1918)
Cherry harvest in a landowners fruit garden in the Ukraine, 1858. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

A Lady of the Manor, 1886. Artist: Makovsky, Konstantin Yegorovich (1839-1915)
A Lady of the Manor, 1886. Found in the collection of the Regional Art Museum, Sumy

Arrival of a voivode, 1907. Artist: Ivanov, Sergei Vasilyevich (1864-1910)
Arrival of a voivode, 1907. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Threshing Barn, 1823. Artist: Venetsianov, Alexei Gavrilovich (1780-1847)
Threshing Barn, 1823. Found in the collection of the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

The Announcement of the Serfs Emancipation Manifesto in the Dormition Cathedral on March 5, 1861, 1861. Found in the collection of the Russian State Library, Moscow

Louis X the Mischievous emancipates the serfs in 1315. Artist: Alaux, Jean (1786-1864)
Louis X the Mischievous emancipates the serfs in 1315. Found in the collection of Musee de l Histoire de France, Chateau de Versailles

Wood Stealer. Artist: Pryanishnikov, Illarion Mikhailovich (1840-1894)
Wood Stealer. Found in the collection of the Regional Art Museum, Lugansk

Landowner Tea Party. Artist: Dmitriev-Orenburgsky, Nikolai Dmitrievich (1837-1898)
Landowner Tea Party. Found in the collection of the State A. Radishchev Art Museum, Saratov

The Death of Wat Tyler, 1381, (19th century)
The Death of Wat Tyler. King Richard II (1367-1400) appeases the rebels on the death of Wat Tyler in Smithfield, 19th century

Boyar, 1879. Artist: Urlaub, Johann-Georg-Christian (1844-1914)
Boyar, 1879. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Costume design for the Serf Theatre of Sheremetev, 1785. Artist: Kuerzinger (Kirzinger), Marianna (1770-1809)
Costume design for the Serf Theatre of Sheremetev, 1785. Found in the collection of the State Central A. Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Moscow

The Emancipation of the Russian Serfs (Study for The Slav Epic), 1914. Artist: Mucha, Alfons Marie (1860-1939)
The Emancipation of the Russian Serfs (Study for The Slav Epic), 1914. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, Prague

Morning of the Lady of the Manor, 1823. Artist: Venetsianov, Alexei Gavrilovich (1780-1847)
Morning of the Lady of the Manor, 1823. Found in the collection of the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

Alexander II (1818-1881), Tsar of Russia from 1855, 1869. Artist: Coide
Alexander II (1818-1881), Tsar of Russia from 1855, c1880. Known as The Liberator, Alexander emancipated Russias serfs in 1861

India. British colonial era. Banquet at the palace of Rais in Mynere. Engraving by Hildibrand. Colored. The Illustrated World, 1882

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"From Serfs to Emancipation: A Glimpse into the Lives of Medieval Peasants" Step back in time and witness the grape harvest at Chateau de Saumur, where laborers toiled under the watchful eye of their feudal lord. This 15th-century illumination from the Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry, captures a scene steeped in tradition and hard work. As winter's chill settled over the land, peasants sought warmth by a fireside on a farm. The illuminated manuscript reveals their humble existence during February - a reminder that survival often depended on gathering around crackling flames. Rent day was an inevitable part of serfdom in the late Middle Ages. Picture a peasant handing over his hard-earned produce as payment to his lord, highlighting the unequal power dynamics prevalent during this era. March brought new tasks for these laborers; plowing with oxen and pruning vines became essential duties. The manuscript's vivid illustration showcases their dedication to cultivating crops amidst changing seasons - an integral aspect of medieval agriculture. Traveling beyond Europe's borders, we catch glimpses of serf-like conditions elsewhere. Russian women alongside a Finn demonstrate how servitude transcended geographical boundaries while shedding light on different cultural practices. Across continents, British colonial rule left its mark on India. A lavish banquet at Rais i palace symbolizes both opulence and exploitation - reminding us that serfdom extended far beyond medieval times. Yet hope emerged amidst oppression as history witnessed emancipation movements taking root worldwide. In 1861, Russia liberated its serfs from bondage - marking a significant milestone towards freedom for those who had long endured subjugation. Delving deeper into historical dioramas reveals more facets of servitude: slave dances in Suriname depict harrowing scenes from 1830 while Zeezigt plantation offers insight into coffee and cotton production during c1815-21.