Among the documents in Yefim Chestnyakov’s archive, there are quite a few letters from relatives, his sisters and father, which they wrote during the artist’s studies in Saint Petersburg. Their sheer number suggests that they wrote to him often. In these letters, the sisters included updates about the family, talked about their studies at the Kologrivsky pro-gymnasium and fairly often asked for money.

Here is one of the letters addressed to Yefim Chestnyakov from his older sister, Alexandra. ‘My dearest god-son, My deepest respect and sincerest regards to you. I received your letter and the Gospels. Thank you for the Gospels. Our studies are starting on September 1. Everyone here, at home, is in good health, only our dearest Papa is not feeling well, his heart is aching for you out of concern. They are very worried about you because there have not been any letters from you. And to put their minds at ease, I wrote a letter to them saying that I received some news from you. At our pro-gymnasium, practically all the teachers are new again and so are the matrons. My tutor called for me and asked about the leg and you to see whether you were content. Please send me Lizaveta Pavlovna’s address and I will write a letter to her. Back home, they have finished threshing the crop. Tanya kept going to pick some lingonberry. We will have a new teacher, Yulia Andreyevna, from Vonyukh. She was an assistant before, and our former teacher will now be the assistant.

The priest wishes to retire, I heard that he has been in this role for 50 years. You asked me whether I needed anything. I have everything but no money. If you have some, then send it to me. If not, I will manage somehow. I am sorry I did not reply much sooner. There was no time, I was settling in and finally I have done so. The girls from second grade are being taught gymnastics, but I probably will not try it as it is difficult. Why don’t you send me your photograph and do write home, it will make them happier. The jacket was not sewn - no money. Father went to work for Perfiliev. His house is across from our village, where there was a fire, it is not far from Vonyukh. Hence, he will be able to sleep at home. There are only three in the artel. The loan is small, 40 rubles, 35 great trees. We wanted to sell our best cow but I do not know whether it has been sold or not. The scribe was meant to buy it to be for its meat. We have ground up the oats ourselves. Someone was probably hired to mill the rye grains as the work is difficult and will not keep until Kazanskaya only Pokrov’ (markers of winter and the period right before, respectively) ‘Deepest respect and sincerest regards to you from the godmother, who said she liked you very much. I spent the night with them on Friday and on Sunday visited them again. A molieben (note: service) was on Saturday. There is a game of croquet in the garden. At present, Elena Grigorievna, the head mistress, teaches Russian and Geography. The teachers of these subjects will arrive later. I must say my good-byes now, there is nothing more to add. I am alive and well, your faithful sister, Sanya’ (the spelling and punctuation in the Russian version of the letter were preserved).