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Tag Archives: Anton Chekhov
Averil King’s “Isaak Levitan: Lyrical Landscape”
Until my book comes out in the fall of 2015, King’s book is the only readily available work in English on Levitan. It was first published in 2004, expanded in a beautiful new edition by the Antique Collectors’ Club in … Continue reading
Sophia Kuvshinnikova’s Diary
People had widely divergent opinions of Sophia Kuvshinnikova, who was Levitan’s mistress from sometime in the late 1880s until 1894. Chekhov found her to be a social gadfly and couldn’t forgive her for cuckolding her husband, a hard-working and unassuming … Continue reading
Status Report
Since I’ve been silent for a while, I thought now would be a good time to write about my progress. I’ve just finished writing the first draft of Chapter 8, which covers the very tumultuous yet creatively productive year 1895. … Continue reading
Origins of “The Seagull”
While Chekhov and Levitan were renewing their friendship in January 1895, Lika Mizinova sat alone and despondent in Paris caring for her two-month-old infant. Frustrated by Chekhov’s rejection of her love, she had started an affair with the writer Potapenko … Continue reading
Posted in Lika Mizinova, Maria Chekhova
Tagged Anton Chekhov, Lika Mizinova, Maria Chekhova, Potapenko
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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
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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Antosha and Levitasha 