Vera de Bosset
Encyclopedia
Vera de Bosset Stravinsky (January 7, 1888 – September 17, 1982) was a Russia
n born American
dancer and artist. She is better known as the mistress and, ultimately, second wife of the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky
who married her in 1940.
nobility. Vera allegedly changed her name to the French "Bosset" to hide her German ancestry. She was the only one of her family to do so.
Stravinsky met Vera in 1921. She was a dancer and the wife of the painter and stage designer Serge Sudeikin
. Stravinsky was then married to his cousin Katerina Nossenko
and had four children. Stravinsky and Vera began an affair which led to her leaving her husband. From then until the death of Katerina from tuberculosis
in 1939, Stravinsky led a double-life, spending most of his time with his wife and children and the rest with Vera. Katerina accepted the relationship. After Katerina's death Stravinsky and Vera married, in New York City
where they had gone to escape war
. After Stravinsky's death (1971) Vera lived on in the New York apartment they had bought shortly before his death. She died, aged 94, in 1982 and is buried with Stravinsky in Venice, Italy.
Her survivors include nephews, nieces and more remote relatives, who live in Europe, the United States and Chile.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dancer and artist. She is better known as the mistress and, ultimately, second wife of the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
who married her in 1940.
Life
Vera de Bosset was born Vera Bosse, the daughter of Eduard Bosse (died 1927 in Reval, Tallinn) and Hedwig von Ruckteschell (18?0–1938) who died in Riga. Both parents were Baltic GermanBaltic German
The Baltic Germans were mostly ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today form the countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic German population never made up more than 10% of the total. They formed the social, commercial, political and cultural élite in...
nobility. Vera allegedly changed her name to the French "Bosset" to hide her German ancestry. She was the only one of her family to do so.
Stravinsky met Vera in 1921. She was a dancer and the wife of the painter and stage designer Serge Sudeikin
Serge Sudeikin
Sergey Yurievich Sudeikin, also known as Serge Soudeikine , was a Russian artist and set-designer associated with the Ballets Russes and the Metropolitan Opera...
. Stravinsky was then married to his cousin Katerina Nossenko
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
and had four children. Stravinsky and Vera began an affair which led to her leaving her husband. From then until the death of Katerina from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1939, Stravinsky led a double-life, spending most of his time with his wife and children and the rest with Vera. Katerina accepted the relationship. After Katerina's death Stravinsky and Vera married, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where they had gone to escape war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After Stravinsky's death (1971) Vera lived on in the New York apartment they had bought shortly before his death. She died, aged 94, in 1982 and is buried with Stravinsky in Venice, Italy.
Her survivors include nephews, nieces and more remote relatives, who live in Europe, the United States and Chile.