A.M.Gerasimov and K.E.Voroshilov

Written by Т.И.Воронова

The materials telling about their great friendship are included in a memorial estate A.M.Gerasimova exposition. About it tell Gerasimov and Voroshilov's some of them the photos are presented to expositions of our museum. 1928 - at a personal exhibition in Moscow (K.E.Voroshilov, S.M.Budennyj and A.M.Gerasimov), A.M.Gerasimov on K.E.Voroshilova's summer residence, etc. the Museum has the several telegrammes sent by K.E.Voroshilovym of A.M.Gerasimovu at various times. In one of them it is told: «Dear Alexander Mihajlovich! Warmly we congratulate you on 38th anniversary of the Great October socialist revolution. Sincerely we wish you kind health and the big successes in your activity. Е and K.Voroshilovy». The telegramme has been handed to A.M.Gerasimov on November, 7th, 1955. In a museum exposition, on the ground floor, where veins A.M.Gerasimov, is a radio receiver presented by Voroshilov.
About with what acquaintance has begun A.M.Gerasimov with K.E.Voroshilov, is told by the artist in the autobiographical book «Life of the artist». To acquaintance has helped Denisov-Schadenko sculptor. It was in 1927.
At that time A.M.Gerasimov, without having the habitation, veins on Volhonka in board of Association of artists of revolutionary Russia. Here he lived and worked about one year. «Happened, after session, - the artist recollects, - I will clean from a president's table a stationery, I will spread on him the sheepskin coat and I will fall asleep a dream of the righteous person.
In the evenings we drew here from life. Somehow time in a break between sessions has approached to me of Denisov-Schadenko. Whether «there is at you a box with paints? - She has asked.« Is, - I have answered.
- Then we will go now to companion Voroshilov. I mould from him a bust, and you will write at the same time an etude ». Unfortunately, I did not have near at hand a canvas and I took a plywood piece. Clearly my excitement. I still never saw Voroshilov, but when he left and without ceremony us have greeted, my excitement has instantly disappeared. K.Voroshilov posed patiently, asked, whether so sits and whether disturbs me what to work. In a break, having approached to my etude, he has expressed the big satisfaction and I, having grown bolder, has asked it to give the chance to me seriously to work over its portrait. Later this portrait has been got by a revolution Museum».
A.M.Gerasimov since the childhood loved horses. He was the good equestrian. Somehow him have invited to hunting to Nalchik. There there was a group of ranking officers of Revvoensovet - commanders of the country. A.M.Gerasimov took with itself all necessary for etudes. «I remember, how K.E.Voroshilov has paid attention of other companions to how I freely sit and I operate a horse. Next day we went tops. Someone has suggested„ to try horses ". Ahead of all there was a Betal Kalmykov. I have recollected olden time, have bent down to a mane and have urged on a horse a lash. I have overtaken Betal. He was not only is surprised, but also annoyed».
After K.E.Voroshilov has presented to the artist a cavalry saddle which is now in a workshop of memorial estate of Gerasimov.
At 10th exhibition AHR devoted to the 10 anniversary of Red Army, A.M.Gerasimov has presented K.E.Voroshilova's horse portrait. Etudes to it should be made from a horse, on which Narkomvoenmor left on parade. It was the well-known Mauser.
With 1929 for 1930 A.M.Gerasimov worked over a portrait «V.I.Lenin on a tribune». K.E.Voroshilov was the main adviser in a writing of this portrait. He many times met Lenin, knew it. «Councils and instructions of companion Voroshilov of a steel for me solving, especially at last stage of work. He called in to me in masterful every week and each time I heard from him instructions valuable to the artist. At last, Voroshilov has told, that I any more did not touch the person, differently the portrait can be spoilt and lost found in him. I and have arrived».
The picture now is in an exposition of the Historical museum in Moscow. Reproductions from this portrait left in million circulation.
In 1935 A.M.Gerasimov has started to write a monumental cloth «the First Cavalry». The size of a canvas 5,5x4 m. On a cloth it was necessary to group 45 characters - participants of civil war. The picture was written one and a half year. A.M.Gerasimov has made fifty etudes from nature. As the most successful the artist considered etudes of Eremenko, Gorodovnikov and Zotov. One variant of an etude of Zotov is in the Tretyakov gallery, another - in a memorial estate A.M.Gerasimov exposition.
«One of difficulties at execution of this picture, - recollected after A.M.Gerasimov, - consisted that everyone wanted that I have written it more close to the composition centre. It has come to an end only after K.E.Voroshilov in one of arrivals has told:„ Take a piece of a chalk and inscribe on a canvas, who and where should be represented. For you a solving word ". Absolutely unexpectedly for me a picture„ the First Horse "has received on the World's fair in Paris in 1937 of Grand prix.
In Gerasimov's art studio on an easel K.E.Voroshilova's written by it shortly before death the portrait is placed. In 1963, after A.M.Gerasimova, K.E.Voroshilov's death has transferred this portrait in gift by the worker of a city of Michurinsk. In the letter he wrote: «the Late national artist of the USSR A.M.Gerasimov many long years was my personal friend. Being on a post of the president of Academy of arts of the USSR, and the next years he has proved the unshakable fighter for the statement in the fine arts of principles of realism. For a long creative life by it it has been created a lot of remarkable products, and I am deeply assured that they, as well as his name, will for ever remain in memory national».
1981 was anniversary year of the 100 anniversary from the date of A.M.Gerasimova's birth. The memorial board has been established: «In this house on June, 7th, 1942 there was K.E.Voroshilov». This event was documented recently the major general in resignation by M.I.Petrov and major general L.A.Scherbakov - the former employees of secretary of the vice-president of Council of national commissioners of the USSR, the Marshal of Soviet Union K.E.Voroshilova, accompanying it on all front and office trips during the Great Patriotic War 1941 - 1945
«On June, 7th, 1942, - they confirm, - K.E.Voroshilov after inspection of 161st shooting division of 3rd reserve army deployed near to a city of Michurinsk, on the way to a train has visited the house of the national artist of the USSR A.M.Gerasimov in Michurinsk on street Lebedjansky (nowadays Gerasimov, 88). It is necessary to notice that Kliment Efremovich highly appreciated creative and Alexander Mihajlovicha's public work, they were connected by long-term friendship».
In A.M.Gerasimova's museum very much value A.M.Gerasimov and K.E.Voroshilova's friendship. In Moscow there lives son K.E.Voroshilova - Peter Klimentovich. The meeting with him has enriched an exposition telling about the big and disinterested friendship of these two remarkable people.