Nikolai Golovanov cherished the small-scale landscape “Capri. Springtime” by the Russian artist Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov, as it reminded him of Italy.

Nikolai Semyonovich knew Nesterov personally. The conductor’s memoirs have been preserved, which describe his playing the piano together with Mikhail Vasilievich for the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, the founder of the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy.

The study “Capri. Springtime” belongs to the early period of Mikhail Nesterov’s work. Capri is a small Italian island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea and is part of the large province of Naples in the Campania region. The island has been a famous seaside resort since ancient Rome. The island is of sedimentary origin and is characterized by rocks, steep coasts, caves, and grottoes. The island’s unusual relief, beautiful views of nature, and remoteness from the crowded Italian regions have attracted travelers as early as ancient times. Nesterov wrote about the island, “On Capri, everything is permeated with music and singing, and the mandolin is heard everywhere. And hurdy-gurdies! There are so many of them.”

In late February of 1908, Nesterov and his family left for Italy, where the artist stayed until mid-April. At the beginning of March, the travelers were in Naples, and from there they went to Capri and, fascinated by its beauty and the wonderful sea, decided to spend the rest of the trip there. The preserved Nesterov’s memoirs of this trip read, “I was quite content with my trip to Italy, albeit my initial itinerary had to be altered and limited to what I had already seen and known. I did not see Siena, Verona, or other charming corners of Italy, for which my companions are to blame. They were captivated by Capri with its nature, walks, and blue sea, so I decided not to force their hand to leave; instead, I started making studies in Capri, for which quite fortunately I found some places to my taste.”