Throughout his career, Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov turned to the theme of family more than once. The most famous work on this subject is the painting called “Family Portrait” (1934). There, Alexander Gerasimov depicted himself, his younger sister Alexandra Mikhailovna Razina, his wife Lydia Nikolayevna, and his daughter Galina.

The study for the family portrait was created in the artist’s native town of Michurinsk. The old brick house where Gerasimov grew up has survived to this day. The years spent in Michurinsk were truly important for the artist. There, he developed his talent and made his first steps towards success and fame. Back in those days, this small provincial town was a bright and colorful mixture of manners and types. Alexander Gerasimov preserved his deep affection for this corner of the Russian land throughout his whole life. In his declining years, the artist reminisced about his homeland and wrote, “All these images still live in my memory.”

On the territory of the estate, where Alexander Gerasimov spent his childhood and youth, a large and well-built summerhouse was the main decoration of the garden. This was the place where the artist worked a lot, rested, and often spent the night. The bed was made out of modest means: a felt pad, a pillow and a blanket. The artist painted the summerhouse more than once. It is depicted in his famous painting “After Rain. A Wet Veranda.” Only an artist that much in love with life could paint the familiar everyday world in such an adoring manner. “There was no need to rearrange or add anything — so much beauty was there before my eyes.” Inspired by this uplifting and heartwarming setting, the artist decided to make a study for a family portrait.

The family is seated cozily at a tea table on the veranda. With bold strokes and saturated vibrant paints, Alexander Gerasimov depicted his beloved family, enjoying a sunny day in the countryside. The artist leaves a small space against the background of the garden for a self-portrait to be added later. This canvas is distinguished by a special atmosphere of elegance, and even splendor, achieved by a magnificently painted still life on the table, with a huge bouquet occupying the foreground — the artist’s long-time favorite motif.

Alexander Mikhailovich never forgot about his parents’ house. Wherever he was, he always longed to come home to Kozlov, where everyone was glad to see him. He wrote numerous heartfelt warm letters to his sister, sharing his impressions of Moscow and foreign trips. They now have pride of place in the exhibition of the estate museum.