The parental house of the artist A.M.Gerasimov

This house is expensive to me! Here has passed my childhood. Here I have learnt to go, tell, observe, learn a life. A fine arrangement of the house. Nearby Bogolyubsky a cathedral, near by a market and to city centre — no distance. There is a house in the former Lebedjansky street which was one of the best city streets of Kozlova. Sound two-storeyed houses, stone fences, strong massive gate, a roadway has been laid out by a cobble-stone exactly, without hollows.
In the early easter morning I go on this street to the aunt. I bear easter gifts. I look around: under spring beams of the sun pure glasses of windows shine, curtains, curtains grow white, the cobblestone road after a high water shines.
And now, when I approach to the treasured house, I undertake a latch, I open a gate, it seems to me that I will hear a sonorous voice Aleksandry Mihajlovny — sisters of the artist: «Fedja! Tomorrow Sashu to meet. The dispatch has received». «It is good, God, a meeting». Fedor is my father. Beautiful, it is perfectly combined, full of energy, forces. To it about thirty. Alexander Mihajlovna was not present God to the father. And somehow the father has told: «My God the white have cut during revolution». «Do not grieve! I to you will be God». Since then all of us, our family, our relatives named to Alexander Mihajlovnu God.
Alexander Mihajlovich did not forget about the parental house. Where it was, in our country or abroad, it always came back not to Moscow, and in Goats, home. For it waited always — in the winter, in the summer, in the autumn, in the spring.
... Alexander Mihajlovich rented a summer residence not to have a rest. It always worked, wrote. This year the beginning of summer was gloomy, rainy. Alexander Mihajlovich with the paints, an easel somewhere left. Around it was deserted, grey, gloomy. And as it is exact at Alexander Mihajlovicha this turned out on a canvas grey colour the clouds leaving afar, gleams of the blue sky, a sad grass without the sun. Picture A.M. Gerasimov it were not pleasant to me: any rough, rough. Close you will not understand that is drawn. It is necessary to look from apart. Said that he drew especially, dabs.
Our family lived on apartment at parents of the artist. Removed kitchen—little thing. Now there an office of the director of memorial estate And. M.Gerasimov. Next day after reception of the telegramme the father harnesses the heavy truck of Vasku in a dray cart, throw on it of hay, covers sackcloth and goes on station. In the house of Gerasimovyh it was accepted to name station station.
The artist in the first days of summer — for the Trinity when peonies, an iris, the Persian lilac blossomed liked to come. He liked them to write. Sometimes happened that the lilac faded, and the artist something was late. Alexander Mihajlovna was cut off by a lilac, made bouquets and protected them in a cellar on ice. In the early spring the father always filled a cellar ice. From above ice became covered сторновкой, straw. And to the middle of summer ice kept a cold in a cellar.
The Trinity in our city was marked by departures in a grove, for a city. Since early morning from a city carts, crews, droshkies to a grove lasted. The noisy companies settled down on clearings under bushes, under trees. Took with itself record players, accordions, samovars and food. Fun, noise, laughter, singing, dancings did not stop before twilight. "Top" (who lived on 2nd floor) always refused such trips. And here Lydia Nikolaevna, Galja and friends of their family willingly took part in these entertainments. Certainly, the father and me took. Stacked provisions on a cart, it is noisy took seat.
Alexander Mihajlovich did not forget to visit the parental house and on the Pancake week. Certainly, pancakes were millet. Millet washed, threw back on sieve and when water will flow down, millet forced down in a mortar. Baked pancakes in Russian oven. What pancakes were! Magnificent, fragrant! The dining room was served by a forward room above. The table, big and square, was by the window, in a room corner. Alexander Mihajlovich sat one behind a table. And on a table of that only was not: both oil, and sour cream, sour milk of house preparation, red fish, caviar red and black, a herring, boiled fish. Then I was surprised, how it is possible to eat pancakes with fish, caviar. What a difference with oil and sugar!
Alexander Mihajlovna — Alexander Mihajlovicha Gerasimov's sister. Parents called its Sledge, and the brother — Sashej. In the house, in a family it was the sovereign mistress. The woman full. Wore dresses of free breed, hair have been collected on a nape in a bunch. Spoke always loudly, gave advice, instructions. She well prepared. And still Alexander Mihajlovna excellently sewed. My beautiful dresses — business of her hands and taste. Liked to read Russian writers, poets, but on holidays. The assistant, the adviser in all affairs Aleksandry Mihajlovny was Dashuha, the servant. The woman low, brisk, courageous in the judgements, appear, never was afraid of anybody. Without Dashi Alexander Mihajlovna solved nothing, started to do nothing. Parents of the artist always had order and cleanliness. Alexander Mihajlovna was married, but children were not.
In the house two floors. Above — parents and servants of Dasha. They are top. On the ground floor there lived only a family of the artist: wife Lydia Nikolaevna, Galja — the daughter, mother-in-law Olga Danilovna and sister-in-law Maria Danilovna. They are bottom.
Alexander Mihajlovich ate always at parents. Prepared Sanja, the his sister. Prepared excellently. Dishes were various. Since morning it was discussed what for today to prepare. Gammons were baked, geese, meat and many other things was extinguished. Somehow in an especially way eggs have been prepared. And under a shell there was a chocolate.
It would be desirable to underline, for what top would not undertake, all at them turned out perfectly. They by Easter in Bogolyubsky have somehow solved a temple to present flowers from a colour shaving in the form of wreaths for icons. Have got all necessary material: a shaving, sacks with sand, patterns of colours, etc. I too studied in this flower business.
Sometimes Dasha and God went to Moscow. Took with itself on sale a butter, packed up it and in Moscow sold. From Moscow brought rags which sold on a second-hand market. So the expense for road justified.
Friendly relations bottom and top was not. Contacts were especially conditional. Men Gerasimovy — kind and simple people.
Michael Sofronovich — the father of the artist — looked picturesquely: a grey hair, pink cheeks, a blue shirt and a black waistcoat. It was very kind. The father has saved money to repay a debt to Michael Sofronovichu which he borrowed on purchase of a horse. Michael Sofronovich did not take money, having told thus: «they will be useful to You. And me they to what. An arrangement: to women do not speak about it». In my memory grandfather Misha has remained sitting among native, smiling and cheerful, as in a picture. I stood at this time near to the artist who worked over a picture. Also grandfather Misha, already sick, sitting in the armchair in a hall at a window was still remembered.
Parents of the artist very much loved the grand daughter Galju. Aunt Sanja has presented to it a grand piano. With great difficulty the grand piano has been established in a room of Gali. Have invited the music-master, very lovely woman.
Were at Gali and the girlfriend: Galya Studenetsky, Katya Garjankina, etc. We always gathered in a room of Gali. Played, drove round dances, sang, told fairy tales. Having matured, read aloud products Charsky, J.Miloslavskogo, M.Zagoskin, A.Pushkin, N.Nekrasov. Sometimes distributed itself on heroines of books. Gali had a good memory. She knew by heart N.Nekrasov's many products «Sasha as wood cut down», I.Krylov, A.Pushkin Cried.
Girl-friends Gali have somehow sat up late, and Alexander Mihajlovich has followed them to close a gate. Next day Galja Studenetsky has told that father Gali has given to it of money, but she asked not to speak about it.
Often I accompanied Galju at cinema. A picture «Light way» we looked almost every day while it was shown in a city. From round dances it was pleasant to us «Boyars more, we to you have come».
To "bottom" came acquaintances much. Sometimes came and with children who drew, according to parents, excellently. Asked Alexander Mihajlovicha to look at works of their children, to state an estimation. There was Boris Putilin, the pupil of our 10th school, too something was brought to show.
Lydia Nikolaevny, wives of the artist, had many friends. In good relations it was with a family of doctors of Ehaninyh. Ekaterina Pavlovna — the doctor-stomatologist, Nikolay Fedorovich — the doctor-therapist. And here Ivan Fedorovich (the artist, a bus comment) who on a speciality I do not remember, happened almost every day. Once with it there was a stroke. And has died, sitting at a table, in the face of Lydia Nikolaevny. Long autumn, winter evenings the wife of the artist spent in a circle of the close acquaintances behind a card table or game to a lotto, then all drank tea. In the afternoon Lydia Nikolaevna read, has somehow managed to make a beautiful rug. An ornament has thought up itself, embroidered with a special needle.
In the summer my father brought a family of the artist on a summer residence to a grove. Once Alexander Mihajlovich has removed a rural small house in with. Lavrovo. On this summer residence the artist together with Galej has lodged. That it was not so boring daughters, took also me. It was so a long time, I yet did not study. The mistress of the house prepared for us. As always Alexander Mihajlovich worked, wrote. In memory only there were grey summer days, yes evenings with an oil lamp.
At the house there was a garden. Fruit trees, bushes of a raspberry and flowers: peonies, an iris, a lilac. In the middle of a garden there was a round table, round a table — benches. The arbour, sound, big was a garden ornament. In an arbour (a terrace, a comment of the author) the artist worked, had a rest, often spent the night. Bed unpretentious: кошма, a pillow yes blankets. Any bed-sheets. The arbour is represented in a picture «Wet terrace».
"Top" prepared for Easter from first days of a Lent. Curtains acted in film, carpets were cleaned. Them cleaned, beat out. The post was observed. Especially the first and last weeks. On the first week fasted. On Saturday accepted a participle. More close by great day God together with Dashej bought some quarters of milk for cottage cheese. Cottage cheese prepared from whole milk, it turned out excellent. Easter were various: creamy, chocolate, заварная.
"Bottom" too prepared for Easter. Eggs not only were painted, but also painted by curls. Beautifully wrote X. В (Christ Voskrese). To a candle Maundy Thursday intertwined with a thin silver piece of paper.
Poor mum! Only now I have understood, how to it it was difficult, heavy: after all how many was baked, ironed, cooked in kitchen in which we lived.
I liked to sit these celebratory evenings in a court yard and to look at the shined windows of the house. All were visible to me behind a celebratory table.
Alexander Mihajlovich briskly talks to a couple Half-Jansky. God Dasha is cheerful, busy. As always mother of the artist, Avdotya Jakovlevna is silent. In a life she seldom smiled, lips thin, are drawn in. It is brushed on a straight line row.
Our family gradually grew. Here already at me two brothers. How we took places in this kitchen? The furniture at us was not any, and there was a Russian oven. The daddy over a bed on which they slept with mum, has made полати is a place for a dream and games. Somehow in the summer at us Vanja, my brother, years of two-three somewhere was gone. We have searched everyone recess in a court yard. It anywhere is not present. Mum cries. Suddenly to us Alexander Mihajlovich has come and has told: «your Vanja sleeps on the big stones». These two huge stones-boulders, probably, more than metre at length.
In the summer the father always accompanied Alexander Mihajlovicha on country trips. As always harnessed Vasku, adhered a kettle to a cart. Took with itself bread, a ham, millet. Cooked drain porridge. And when there was a rain, slept under a cart. Sometimes on weeks there was no house.
There was time when phone in our city was a rarity. Communication with people which were necessary to Alexander Mihajlovichu, held through me, the barefoot little girl. Lydia Nikolaevna gave me a note from Alexander Mihajlovicha or in words told that is necessary. I went to D.R.Panin on the Tambov street, to the lovely, kind person. Dmitry Rodionovich was the assistant, perhaps, Alexander Mihajlovicha's friend, which A.M.Gerasimov named simply Mitja. Sometimes ran on "Cossacks". Lydia Nikolaevna explained how to find this or that person: «Behind prison, on the right side, there is a smithy, and nearby the house which is necessary to you. Has understood?» «Yes!» — I answered.
The end 20 beginning of 30th years of last century were heavy for all people. The authorities condensed house owners, came to houses with warrants on a search. Searched for gold. I remember, how once have come from GPU. Searched at Gerasimovyh for gold, but, obviously, have not found. And then took to Alexander Mihajlovnu with itself. Here how many have kept it in GPU, I do not know, but not so long. Somehow in the morning she has come back home, and after told a lot of the interesting. I have only remembered that the woman the pregnant woman sat with it. Has given birth there, in GPU (in a toilet), without any assistance.
Years went. Something varied in a life. The relation of the authorities to Gerasimov has changed. Alexander Mihajlovich has received a rank of the honoured worker of arts and the State award. At first such message has brought radio, and later — congratulatory telegrammes, from everywhere went congratulations. Have already got tired to run to open a gate, and Alexander Mihajlovna has thought up: it has fastened one rouble in a towel, lowered it in a window. The postman took money and put the telegramme.
We have lived in the house of Gerasimovyh more than ten years. It was necessary to think already to live normally, to have a home. Mum on this soil quarrelled with the daddy. At last, have saved a few money, then have still occupied and have bought the house on street Krasnoarmejsky. It was easy to move. From furniture there was a table, a bench, two chairs, a self-made bed yes a chest with things. Have forgotten a wall mirror. We lived the more the merrier. And here the house on Krasnoarmejsky has brought to us a great grief. The beginning of December, 1937. The father have arrested and have sent into exile for eight years under item 10 article 58. Political propaganda. Penal servitude the daddy left in the Far East, in the Magadan area, in settlement Berry. In 1946 the father has returned the patient. We, children, became already adult. I have ended teacher's institute, then worked in a kindergarten of the Moscow-Ryazan railway. And as I was not married, me often sent in business trip to Moscow, in management. I stopped at Gerasimovyh. They lived in Moscow, in settlement the Falcon, Levitan's street, the house 6. They were always glad to a meeting. Talked both to Alexander Mihajlovichem, and with Dmitry Rodionovichem. They rose early. Sometimes sat at one table. The house of Gerasimovyh was hospitable!
Here there lived sister of the wife of Barbarian Nikolaevna, Savinov's Muse, woman Olja and the woman Attracting. When I was in Moscow on business trip in management of the Moscow-Ryazan railway stopped at Gali Gerasimovoj.
But all passes. Alexander Mihajlovich has died. The father went on funeral of the artist to Moscow. With Galej the daddy corresponded to her death.