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A Villa Built on the Seashore
Aurora
Charity

Albert Edelfelt, water-colour, 1898.
Congratulatory address (detail).

Through her second husband, Andrei Karamzin, Aurora got to know Leo Tolstoy and his views on Christian charity. After being widowed, Aurora dedicated herself to charity work. She founded the Deaconess' Institute in Helsinki in 1867. But it was not until 1875 that Aurora settled permanently in Helsinki. She worked to improve healthcare, poverty relief, child welfare and education, and also established a public canteen and regular reception hours for those in need.