There were roses on a table

For the first time I have seen Alexander Mihajlovicha Gerasimov in city art studio over which artist Ivan Fedorovich Ehanin supervised, and artist Sergey Sergeevich Varsonofev was the teacher.
Here, in studio, also artist Alexander Gerasims has come once. He has decided to write a portrait of Ehanina with which at it was friendly relations. It has turned out wonderful, it is masterful the written portrait. All of us were delighted — all who was in art studio.
Then I sometimes met Gerasimov in a family of doctors of Ehaninyh with which was in a great friendship. Here Alexander Mihajlovich has written two portraits: Ivan Fedorovicha's nieces — Galinas, and the brother of the artist — Nikolay Fedorovicha. Both portraits nowadays at Galina Nikolaevny Ehaninoj in Kazan.
Under Gerasimov's recommendation in 1935 I have gone to work the artist in CGL Michurin's name and have worked there over thirty years.
Quite often, receiving holiday, left to Moscow to meet Gerasimov, to visit its workshop. It was my adviser, helped as the artist much.
Be in Michurinsk, Gerasimov liked to meet old friends — I.S.Gorshkovym, A.N.Baharev, V.V. Butuzov, artist S.S.Varsonofevym. Usually it became at once the attention centre, we liked it to listen.
Having had a good long talk to satiety, will rise from a sofa, will approach to me:
— Kolenka, get, please, my favourite plates.
Also the concert — choruses, romances begins.
Part gramophone plates and three hundred pictures on which I have embodied Alexander Mihajlovicha, I have given to gift to his name house museum.
Quite often Gerasimov invited us to pancakes in a native home where there lived Alexander Mihajlovna's his sister. She hospitably treated the big company.

Once Gerasimov has written my portrait to four sessions. I, of course, posed willingly, with the big desire.
When in 1962 I have visited the Moscow workshop has seen that my portrait is already inserted into a fine oak frame. Alexander Mihajlovich has presented to me it, and with it an etude to a picture «Rural bath». Nowadays the portrait is in city memorial estate A.M.Gerasimov and now, by an anniversary of Gerasimov, it is included in an exposition which will take places in a new showroom.
Last time there was I Alexander Mihajlovichem in the summer of 1963. He felt badly, only left the Kremlin hospital. Has found forces to sit down in an armchair, it was very glad that I to it have arrived. We recollected friends, meetings in Michurinsk.
On July, 22nd, 1963 Alexander Mihajlovich has told to me:
— We will go eat on a summer residence to Klimentu Efremovichu behind roses, I wish to start to write roses.
Roses have brought. Two fine bouquets. I have brought them in a workshop. Alexander Mihajlovich has sat down in a wicker chair and speaks:
— Kolenka, put roses...
I have poured in the florist of water, he prompted to me, as it is better to put them in vases.
— Tomorrow I will start to write, for now I will have a rest it is a little.
In its workshop there was a small room-bedroom. In it there was a bed on which Alexander Mihajlovich and has lain down. My cot was in an opposite corner studios, fenced off by the big picture and closed by a canvas.
I have dozed off. Suddenly I hear, someone awakes me. I open eyes — there is in a white dressing gown a woman, the doctor. From it I have heard sad words:
— Alexander Mihajlovich has died.
It was on July, 23rd, 1963.
The life of the artist has broken, and roses, its favourite flowers, remained unwritten.
Alexander Gerasims is buried in Moscow on the New maiden cemetery. On its tomb there is a pedestal with a bust, its executed great friend sculptor E.V.Vuchetichem.