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Linda,
I just received the current Folio, and was tickled to read your very instructive article on Ilya Repin. A wonderful article on a fascinating man!
Because we are safely tucked away here in the publication section, and I am newly back from a two week trip, I hope you won't mind if I wax nostalgic.
I was napping in the back seat of a car on the way to a beach outside of St. Petersburg when I opened one eye and caught a glimpse of a fence and Cyrillic writing by some estate.
"What's that" I asked groggily.
"It's Penates,"
"What's Penates?" I asked.
"It's Repina. It's Repin's estate". I sat bolt upright and demanded we go back.
"We can't, we're going to the beach".
"Forget the beach, we have to go back!"
They promised we would stop back on the drive home, and I pestered them silly to pack up lunch and head out. We finally arrived back at the Penates, but only had 30 minutes before it closed. We ran through the place, snapping pictures, and after the building closed, explored the grounds. Repin is buried back behind the house, a little stature atop his grave. There are gardens and wonderful walkways everywhere.
He lived in a studio which is also a house. (As opposed to a house with a studio) There were three studios, including one in the back which was a glassed-in gazebo attached to the house, and a bedroom and a kitchen.
I'm posting several picture of his house, a delightfully gingerbread concoction of spires, odd rooms, and fairy tale whimsy.
I still can't believe that if I hadn't awakened at the very moment, I would have missed one of the most exciting studios I have ever visited!
Peggy
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