The one artist who had a particularly strong and lasting influence on Feodor Chaliapin was Mikhail Vrubel. The dramatic tension, expressiveness, and philosophical depth of his art influenced not only Chaliapin’s roles but also his entire performance style during his heyday.

Chaliapin became acquainted with Vrubel’s art when he saw his murals “Mikula Selyaninovich” and “Princess of Dreams”. According to the singer, these paintings marked an important milestone on his path to true art. Later, Vrubel worked on the set design of numerous opera productions in which Chaliapin sang, such as “The Demon” by Anton Rubinstein and “Mozart and Salieri” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Mikhail Vrubel developed a unique method of using painting techniques in other types of art — from mosaics to majolica. According to the artist, the reasons why he turned to ceramics included his wish to “embrace the shape” as fully as possible, to develop an artistic interpretation of life, and to embody his passion for everything ornate.

The Feodor Chaliapin Estate Museum on Novinsky Boulevard houses a decorative ceramic plate designed by Mikhail Vrubel. The front side of the plate is coated with a blue-gray glaze in shades of turquoise and deep pink. The reverse side is covered with a brown glaze. Mikhail Vrubel’s ceramic works include stoves, fireplaces, murals, and a series of statues inspired by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s operas “Sadko” and “The Snow Maiden”.

Many of Chaliapin’s friends worked in the pottery studio set up by Savva Mamontov in his Abramtsevo Estate. The artist Alexander Golovin recalled,