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Author Archives: Serge Gregory
Pavel Chekhov’s Diary
One of the most valuable primary sources from Chekhov’s Melikhovo years (1892-1898) is the diary kept by his father, Pavel Egorovich Chekhov. His children found his laconic, seemingly random entries to be unintentionally hilarious. Here’s a sample: September 7, 1894: … Continue reading
Chekhov’s Restaurants
The Hermitage, located on the corner of Petrovsky Boulevard and Neglinnaya Street, was one of Moscow’s most fashionable restaurants and a favorite among Chekhov’s circle of friends. On February 6, 1895 Maria Chekhova found herself having dinner with the writer … Continue reading
Posted in Circle of Friends, Homes and Museums
Tagged Anton Chekhov, Isaac Levitan, Maria Chekhova
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Melikhovo
By early 1892 Chekhov had a sufficiently substantial income to finally act on his long-standing desire to buy a country home. In February, on his behalf, his brother Mikhail bought Melikhovo, nearly 600 acres of birch woods and pasture with … Continue reading
Posted in Homes and Museums, Melikhovo
Tagged Anton Chekhov, Isaac Levitan, Melikhovo
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Abramtsevo
In early June 1885, Levitan left Chekhov’s dacha at Babkino for Savva Mamontov’s estate at Abramtsevo accompanied by the painter Victor Vasnetsov. The railroad baron Mamontov had turned Abramtsevo, located about 40 miles from Moscow, into an artist’s colony. The … Continue reading
Levitan Meets Tolstoy
Among the unpublished memoirs at the Tretyakov Gallery archive, I came across an interesting anecdote about how Levitan once met Tolstoy, albeit very briefly. In the late 1880’s Levitan was living, on and off, in a furnished room in the … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, Circle of Friends
Tagged Isaac Levitan, Landscape art, Leo Tolstoy, Tretyakov Gallery
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Korsh’s Private Theatre
In April 1892 Levitan ran into Chekhov in front of Korsh’s Theatre and demanded an explanation why the writer had caricatured him and his mistress Sophia Kuvshinikova in his story “The Grasshopper.” Chekhov sharply replied that he didn’t owe him … Continue reading
Posted in Homes and Museums, Uncategorized
Tagged Anton Chekhov, Isaac Levitan, Korsh's Theatre
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Levitan at the Tretyakov Gallery
I decided to take a break from the archives and go see the Levitan paintings at the Tretyakov. In 1879 the business magnate and art patron Pavel Tretyakov paid 100 rubles for Levitan’s painting “Autumn Day, Sokolniki,” which he saw … Continue reading
Levitan’s Studio
On Sunday I visited Levitan’s home and studio off Tryokhsvyatitelny (Three Prelates) Lane. In 1889 Sergei Morozov, a wealthy Moscow entrepreneur, gave Levitan the use of detached building next to his grand mansion located in a fashionable, secluded part of … Continue reading
The Lenin Library
On Saturday I plunged into working at the Russian State Library. Getting into the library is a somewhat elaborate process: first, there is a checkpoint at which you scan your reader card, then you walk up to the checkroom to … Continue reading
Antosha and Levitasha 