Ossetian poet, artist and publicist Kosta Khetagurov had a huge impact on the development of the spiritual component of the culture of the Ossetian people. The memory of the great compatriot is still cherished in the Caucasus.
Biography
An Ossetian educator was born in the very heart of the Caucasus Mountains, in the picturesque village of Nar, which is located in the upper reaches of the Alagi Gorge. The poet's father, ensign Levan Elisbarovich Khetagurov, served faithfully in the Russian army, Costa's mother is the beautiful Gubaeva Maria Gavrilovna. Ossetian poet and artist was born in 1859 on October 3rd. The child did not recognize the ardent motherly love, since Maria Gavrilovna died very early, when the boy was only 2 years old. Chendze Dzaparova, who was a distant relative of Kosta Khetagurov's mother, was raising the baby. The woman treated the orphan very warmly and gave him her love. Soon Levan Elisbarovich married again, but the stepmother did not like her stepson.
The boy received his education in a small school in the village and continued it in the Vladikavkaz gymnasium. During his studies, Costa showed a remarkable talent - he showed promise in painting.
The father was for the guy an indisputable authority and the most beloved person in the world. This love with Kosta was shared by the inhabitants of the Narsk Gorge, who chose Levon Yeligzarovich as their national leader. Thanks to the father of Kosta Khetagurov, the Georgievsko-Ossetian village arose in the Kuban. At present, this settlement exists safely and bears the name of its famous poet and artist. Geographically, the Georgievsko-Ossetian settlement belongs to Karachay-Cherkessia.
Kosta did not graduate from the Vladikavkaz gymnasium, as he missed home and his father very much. He returned to his native land and continued his studies in sciences at the Kalandzhinsky school until 1870.
Work and creativity
In the 70s Kosta tried to write his own poems and several early works of the poet "Husband and Wife", "Faith", "New Year" have survived to this day. The father again sent his son to study, now to Stavropol. Kosta Khetagurov received this education since 1871. Passion for painting helped the young man to participate in the All-Russian opening day in 1877. The paintings by the Ossetian artist were noticed by the master and were highly appreciated. A brilliant career awaited the artist - the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. The famous Russian artists Surikov, Repin, Serov, Vrubel became the teachers and mentors of the talented Ossetian. And now you can admire the paintings that Kosta Khetagurov wrote in those fruitful years. These are "The Grieving Angel", "Natural Bridge", "Dining Mountain" and other paintings.
In 1885, the young artist returned to his homeland, where he lived in Vladikavkaz until 1891.
Powerful Russian culture, life in enlightened and beautiful St. Petersburg had a huge impact on Kosta Khetagurov. In addition to painting, he was engaged in writing, and even during the years of his life on the banks of the Neva, the first large poems came out from under his pen. When Khetagurov returned to the Caucasus, he began to frequently publish his poetic works in the popular magazines "Kazbek" and "North Caucasus". The poems were published in the Ossetian language and were of a freedom-loving nature, which was the reason for the expulsion of the poet. The disgraced author spent two years in his father's house.
Personal life
Since 1892, Kosta Khetagurov was haunted by misfortunes - his father died, his personal life took shape, and serious illnesses appeared. However, the author of poems and paintings continued his tireless work. He became a real publicist. For his independent view of public life, he was repeatedly punished in the form of exile. Loneliness and poverty were his companions. The Ossetian poet died in his native village in 1906 in the house of his sister, who looked after him until his last days.
