Talashkino () is a selo in Smolensky District,

Smolensk Oblast Smolensk Oblast (), informally also called Smolenshchina (), is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative centre is the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Smolensk. As of the 2021 Russ ...

, Russia, located southeast of Smolensk. Talashkino is notable because in the end of the 19th and in the beginning of the 20th century it belonged to

Princess Maria Tenisheva Maria Klavdievna Tenisheva (née Pyatkovskaya, in the first marriage – Nikolaeva, (20 May 1858 – 14 April 1928) was a Russian Princess, artist, educator, philanthropist and collector. She was born on 20 May 1858 in St. Petersburg. Maria Tenis ...

, who created here an artistic colony. The buildings of the estate are currently split between Talashkino and a nearby village, Flyonovo. Tenisheva, sponsored by her husband, Vladimir Tenishev, bought the estate in 1893. She lived in Saint Petersburg, was educated as an artist, was acquainted with many contemporary artists, and since 1894 ran a free art studio in her house, supervised by

Ilya Repin Ilya Yefimovich Repin ( – 29 September 1930) was a Russian painter, born in what is today Ukraine. He became one of the most renowned artists in Russian Empire, Russia in the 19th century. His major works include ''Barge Haulers on the Volga' ...

, the most influential Russian painter. She was also an art collector, and in 1898 she donated all of her collection to the

Russian Museum The State Russian Museum (), formerly known as the Russian Museum of His Imperial Majesty Alexander III (), on Arts Square in Saint Petersburg, is the world's largest depository of Russian fine art. It is also one of the largest art museums in ...

. In 1900, she opened an artisan workshop, which mainly produced ceramics and carvings, and invited

Sergey Malyutin Sergey Vasilyevich Malyutin (; 4 October 1859 – 6 December 1937) was a Russian painter of fine crafts, (scenic) designer, illustrator and architect; initially associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement.

to supervise it. The objective of Tenisheva was to create a "genuine Russian style". Apprentices, selected by Malyutin, were local peasants. Malyutin stayed in Talashkino until 1903, and in the meanwhile designed a house in Flyonovo based on Russian fairy tales. After 1903, the workshop was taken over by Alexey Zinovyev and Vladimir Beketov, who were both under influence of

Nicholas Roerich Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh (), better known as Nicholas Roerich (; October 9, 1874 – December 13, 1947), was a Russian painter, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, philosopher, and public figure. In his youth he was influenced by Russ ...

. The production of the workshop was exhibited all over Russia on a regular basis; in 1902, there was a large exhibition of Talashkino products in Smolensk. Tenisheva also asked a photographer,

Ivan Barshchevsky Ivan () is a Slavic male given name, connected with the variant of the Greek name (English: John) from Hebrew meaning 'God is gracious'. It is associated worldwide with Slavic countries. The earliest person known to bear the name was the Bu ...

, to organize a historical museum in Talashkino, with the purpose of educating local peasants. The museum has proven to be too big and was in 1905 relocated to Smolensk. Tenisheva organized a theater and a

balalaika The balalaika (, ) is a Russian string instrument, stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck, and three strings. Two strings are usually tuned to the same note and the third string is a perf ...

orchestra (conducted by

Vasily Lidin Vasili, Vasily, Vasilii or Vasiliy (Russian: Василий) is a Russian masculine given name of Greek origin and corresponds to ''Basil''. It may refer to: *Vasily I of Moscow Grand Prince from 1389–1425 *Vasily II of Moscow Grand Prince fro ...

) in Talashkino as well. A number of Russian painters visited Tenisheva in Talashkino, including Ilya Repin,

Konstantin Korovin Konstantin (Constantin) Alekseyevich Korovin (; 11 September 1939) was a leading Russian Impressionist painter. Biography Youth and education Konstantin was born into a wealthy merchant family of Old Believers

Mikhail Vrubel Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel (; – ) was a Russian painter, draughtsman, and sculptor. A prolific and innovative master in various media such as painting, drawing, decorative sculpture, and theatrical art, Vrubel is generally character ...

, and Nicolas Roerich. In 1919, Tenisheva left Russia, and the estate was nationalized and decayed. Most of the buildings were lost; those which survived currently belong to the Smolensk Museum. The Church of the Holy Spirit has mosaic decoration made by Nicholas Roerich.

References

{{Authority control Rural localities in Smolensk Oblast Smolensky Uyezd Artist colonies