Valery Pavlovich Chkalov was the legendary USSR test pilot and headed the crew that made non-stop flights from Moscow to the Far East and then across the North Pole to America. Chkalov participated in designing and testing the best Soviet fighters and developed several aerobatic maneuvers. He was awarded two Orders of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner and held the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The portrait of an outstanding pilot was created by Nikolay Alexandrovich Markin, who was born in 1921 in the village of Kurochkino, Chuvash ASSR. He spent his childhood and school years in Vasilyov — the hometown of the famous pilot.
By the beginning of the war, Markin had graduated from the Yaroslavl Art School. After the graduates received their diplomas, they were immediately called to the military commissariat. Nikolay Markin was assigned to the infantry and machine-gun military school in the Krasnoyarsk Krai, and in the summer of 1942, all cadets were sent to the west.
Markin participated in the fierce battles of the Don Front, including the defense of Hill 101, Mamayev Kurgan. Throughout his service, he sustained several injuries, one of them being pretty serious: a German sniper’s bullet hit him under the collarbone, damaged the nerves, and his arm went limp. Due to this injury, Nikolay Markin returned to Chkalovsk, where he started working as a graphic designer in the district House of Culture.
In 1944, Markin became a senior researcher at the Valery Pavlovich Chkalov Memorial Museum. He also acted as a guide in the museum and gave lectures at schools and clubs. He put together a display that was used for over 40 years.
Four years later, Nikolay Markin entered VGIK, graduated with honors and got a job as a production designer at the Mosfilm studio. There he participated in the creation of several dozen films, including “Viy”, “Shadows Disappear at Noon”, “Eternal Call”, “Weather Is Good on Deribasovskaya”, and others.
Markin was awarded many medals and orders and held the title of Honored Artist and Cinematographer of the Russian Federation. Nikolay Markin presented his paintings, including those dedicated to Chkalov, at the Victory Day exhibitions for the rest of his life.
In 2021, Nikolay Alexandrovich Markin celebrated his centenary. The artist died just days before his 101st birthday.
The portrait of an outstanding pilot was created by Nikolay Alexandrovich Markin, who was born in 1921 in the village of Kurochkino, Chuvash ASSR. He spent his childhood and school years in Vasilyov — the hometown of the famous pilot.
By the beginning of the war, Markin had graduated from the Yaroslavl Art School. After the graduates received their diplomas, they were immediately called to the military commissariat. Nikolay Markin was assigned to the infantry and machine-gun military school in the Krasnoyarsk Krai, and in the summer of 1942, all cadets were sent to the west.
Markin participated in the fierce battles of the Don Front, including the defense of Hill 101, Mamayev Kurgan. Throughout his service, he sustained several injuries, one of them being pretty serious: a German sniper’s bullet hit him under the collarbone, damaged the nerves, and his arm went limp. Due to this injury, Nikolay Markin returned to Chkalovsk, where he started working as a graphic designer in the district House of Culture.
In 1944, Markin became a senior researcher at the Valery Pavlovich Chkalov Memorial Museum. He also acted as a guide in the museum and gave lectures at schools and clubs. He put together a display that was used for over 40 years.
Four years later, Nikolay Markin entered VGIK, graduated with honors and got a job as a production designer at the Mosfilm studio. There he participated in the creation of several dozen films, including “Viy”, “Shadows Disappear at Noon”, “Eternal Call”, “Weather Is Good on Deribasovskaya”, and others.
Markin was awarded many medals and orders and held the title of Honored Artist and Cinematographer of the Russian Federation. Nikolay Markin presented his paintings, including those dedicated to Chkalov, at the Victory Day exhibitions for the rest of his life.
In 2021, Nikolay Alexandrovich Markin celebrated his centenary. The artist died just days before his 101st birthday.
