In 1898, Penza honored the literary critic Vissarion Belinsky on the 50th anniversary of his death. For that event, his statues were commissioned in Paris, but it turned out that the order would not be delivered on time. The situation was saved by Konstantin Savitsky, director of the Penza Art College: in just a few days he painted a portrait that was presented at the ceremony.

Vissarion Belinsky was born into the family of the medical officer Grigory Belynsky in the sea fortress of Sveaborg. When the boy was five, the family moved to the town of Chembar, Penza Governorate. The town is located close to the village of Belyn where the critic’s ancestors had served as priests and where his father was born. Vissarion Belinsky graduated from the district school and at the age of 14 entered the Penza secondary school for boys.

The director of the secondary school was the writer Ivan Lazhechnikov famous for his historical novels. By force of duty, he sometimes visited Chembar and inspected local schools. Once, Lazhechnikov was conducting an exam when he met the young Vissarion Belinsky. The professor recalled that the 12-year-old student answered all his questions “quickly, easily, and with great confidence, ” and demonstrated knowledge of the books which were not even included in the required reading list.

Later, Belinsky studied under Lazhechnikov, and the professor admitted that, despite the difference in age and position, there was no one else in Penza with whom he could have “such a hearty talk… about science or literature.”

Vissarion Belinsky studied at the secondary school for only three and a half years. During that time, he became fascinated by drama literature and often attended productions by the serf theater of the landlord Vasily Gladkov. At the same time, he became a close friend of Dmitry Kalinin, the only serf among the school’s students. Dmitry’s tragic story formed the basis of the drama “Dmitry Kalinin” which Belinsky wrote at the age of 19 and in which he explored the issues of serfdom and the position of peasants in society.

Having decided to apply to Moscow University, Vissarion Belinsky started preparing for the entrance exams. In 1829, he enrolled at the university, and after 1830, he never returned to Penza again.