Makhalov Mikhail N.

Honored cultural worker of the RSFSR Mikhail Nikolaevich Makhalov worked in the Gallery from 1935 until his last days. Having studied the basics of restoration under the guidance of A.K. and V.A. Fedorov, E.V. Kudryavtsev, Makhalov became one of the leading restorers of the Gallery. He took a forced break from this constant work only during the Great Patriotic War, on the fronts of which he fought until the Victory. Over the years of work at the Gallery, Makhalov the restorer restored exhibits after the return of funds from evacuation, accompanied traveling exhibitions around the cities of the USSR, participated in the restoration of the paintings “Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581” by I. Repin, “The Morning of the Streltsy Execution” by V. Surikov, as well as in the restoration of panoramas by F. Roubaud “The Battle of Borodino” and “Defense of Sevastopol”. He continued to improve methods of conservation of monuments. The “ideal” hands of Mikhail Nikolaevich extended the life of many works of art, including dozens of unique creations by K. Bryullov, A. Ivanov, V. Tropinin. Makhalov had the opportunity to discover a previously unknown work by I. Repin. During a routine inspection of the “Portrait of Myasoedov”, he discovered another canvas under the tear in the canvas; After research, the authenticity of the painting “Lady in the Park” was established. Having carefully studied the technique and technology of the old masters, Makhalov commissioned museums to make copies of works stored in the Tretyakov Gallery. Passion for his work and admiration for classical Russian painting contributed to the formation of a master who, even in painting “for himself,” used motifs found in the process of professional work as a restorer. In the post-war years, the artist captured many exhibition halls of the Tretyakov Gallery. Today these paintings are also valued as evidence of history, and it is no coincidence that Makhalov’s painting “Interior. Borovikovsky Hall (1957) was acquired by the Gallery. A number of other works with views from the museum’s previous exhibition were donated to the Gallery by the son of M. N. Makhalov. In the traditions of the domestic landscape school and Russian plein airism, focusing on the work of his favorite painters - V. Surikov, I. Repin, V. Serov, the artist relied on impressions from nature and reliably transferred them to canvas. Particularly committed to the landscape genre, Makhalov drew inspiration from the nature of the middle zone, primarily the Moscow region and his native Nizhny Novgorod, then Gorky, region.