But the time has come fierce: the money was confiscated from the estate left only 4 acres, the house settled Latvians, though she was, and the school, where he taught my daughter and granddaughter, in our own house. (Near Vitebsk, Verkhovsky. Pag.). After 81 years of life - no name, no money.

Sorry. The elderly artist Ilya Repin - author of "Boatmen" and "Zaporozhtsev.

Voroshilov sent a letter to the artist to Stalin to make a decision with this postscript:

"Dear Koba!

I am sending you a letter Repin for review. I beg you, if you do not complicate, scribble a few words about this.

The letter - handwritten resolution of Stalin:

"Klim, I think that the Soviet government should fully support the Repin.

Soon Voroshilov Repin wrote a short answer:

"Dear Ilya Efimovich! I promise the other day to report your case to the Government and I hope that the Workers 'and Peasants' Government, taking into account the greatest contribution to your country and humanity, do everything necessary to meet your requirements."

Soon Repin about this letter he wrote (not without irony) I. Brodsky:

Dear Isaac Izraelevich!

... Yesterday I received a reply from Voroshilov. Marvelous letter! If my request is not expected consequences, I still consider myself lucky, having such a high value of an autograph - recognition of my greatest achievements for the country and mankind (yet we have never climbed so high - "to the country and humanity!")

I will give this letter to be deposited in the museum. And by the way, I renounce the title of "the" People's Artist ", which was expressed a desire to reward me. I am grateful for such a high honor, but Voroshilov letter exhaust the issue. I was awarded.

In Moscow, began to prepare a second delegation to negotiate with Repin on return. Voroshilov wrote about it Ilya Efimovich like:

"Dear Ilya Efimovich Allow me to assure you that the daring move to his homeland, which, no doubt you love as deep and strong, as we all do, you not only make personal mistakes, but be truly great, historical and social work. your personal life and your loved ones the State will provide fully. And your spiritual life, the life of a great artist, once again merge with the life of titanium-people ... "

More on the case of Repin's "certificate on file OGPU, which to some extent, shed light on why Ilya Efimovich never returned to the USSR.

Help on the property and marital status of Ilya Repin's daughter Tatyana Ilyinichna Repina-Yazev.

Repin-Yazeva Ilinichna Tatiana, 50, Vitebsk, postal station Buyany, Nicholas s /s, Zdravnevo.

Family: daughter, son, Ivan D. Diakonov and 4 grandchildren, of which over 6 years. Male T. Repin-Yazev, who died 2 years ago, was a military engineer. From 1918 to 1921 was at the front and had a reward.

Her daughter was a teacher from 1919 to 1926 in-law, J. D. Diakonov, all the time was a teacher in Zdravnevo to February this year when he was fired from his job and expelled from the Union, as a foul individual taxes. School Zdravnevo for 9 years using a free room in the house of T. Repin.

T. I. Repin was from 1921-1923, the teacher, left her job because of hearing loss.

5 February. g. Repin described all property (including the body and wear clothes, baby diapers, etc.) with a warning that it will be confiscated. Another February 3 received a summons for an immediate contribution to the cooperative unit differential of 1000 pp. February 10 Repina was ordered to personally carry wood from Nicholas s /s. When she was in the s /s with a statement that it is impossible for her to fulfill the prescribed work, but with a proposal to take her horse, she was subjected to a search and retained until the evening under arrest. At the same time was searched in the house (like all overlaid with individual taxes).

March 31 TI Repin was caused in the s /s to fill out questionnaires on evictions in Siberia.

Perhaps the fate of relatives learned Ilya Efimovich, and at the last moment, he refused to return to the USSR.

It is unlikely that the old man could understand the logic of power that one hand wrote enthusiastic letters to the proposal to return home, and another - terrorizing his family and friends because they live in my parents' house, half of which provide free school, but can not afford to pay a fancy taxes for the "individual ownership". (c)