Maria Pavlovna Chekhova is the sister of the famous writer. The teacher and artist became the founder of the A. P. Chekhov House-Museum in Yalta. Awarded the title of Honored Art Worker of the RSFSR.
The whole life of Maria Pavlovna was aimed at caring for her beloved brother. Chekhov was born in Taganrog in 1863, on August 19 (31). The father adored his only daughter. Masha grew up with five brothers. However, most of all she became friends with Anton, admired his gentle disposition and cheerful character. In 1872 the girl entered the women's Mariinsky gymnasium.
Time of childhood and time of adolescence
After the family moved to the capital in 1976, she completed her education at the Filaretovsky female school. Until 1885, the student studied at the Higher Courses with Professor Gerrier. She then taught at a private gymnasium. In 1903 she was awarded the gold medal "For diligence in education." The talented artist was enthusiastically engaged in painting.
In the nineties, she studied at the Stroganov School, attended the Khotyintseva studio. She was taught by Serov, Korovin, Levitan. The painting of the talented student was compared by contemporaries to the literary work of her brother. However, Chekhova had almost no time left for art.
She was engaged in almost all household arrangements of the family both in the capital and in Yalta. Mashenka was jokingly given the nickname "Builder Solness". Plays by the Norwegian playwright Heinrich Ibsen have enjoyed tremendous success since the beginning of the last century. Among them was the one where the nickname came from.
The new name perfectly reflected the essence of an active lady. She loved creativity and creation. However, Maria Pavlovna managed not only to keep an eye on the farm. According to her plan, a school was built in Melekhov. She has hosted charity concerts and performances. During her life on the Chekhov estate, she performed the work of a nurse at reception and simple surgical operations, and was engaged in a home pharmacy.
Best helper and friend
Friendship between relatives amazed contemporaries. Maria gave up her personal life, so as not to disrupt the usual course of being a famous brother. For his work, a real assistant tried to create a favorable environment. She carried out assignments, visited editorial offices, brought proofreads, library books.
My sister had a household, and she decided everything. If questions about renting a new apartment, moving to a dacha were discussed, the last word remained with the sister. The always fit and elegant Maria Chekhova was noted for amazing grace and taste. She appreciated and understood humor, loved to joke herself, could say a sharp word, give a well-aimed nickname.
Together with her brother in Melekhov, my sister actively participated in the renovation of the estate. The girl was engaged in the construction of schools, treatment of peasants, and household work. The whole estate was on the gentle and fragile girl. In the morning, she disappeared all day in the field, in the threshing floor, protecting her beloved brother from unnecessary work. A lot of help was provided by my sister before Chekhov's trip to Sakhalin.
Maria Pavlovna worked in the library, made extracts from the books her brother needed. The journey was not easy. After his return, the writer began collecting textbooks for Sakhalin schools with libraries. And again the nursing was the best help. After the death of her brother, the sister kept all the rooms of the Yalta house intact.
However, more and more visitors came and asked for permission to see the place where the "Cherry Orchard" and "The Lady with the Dog" were created. A relative realized that Chekhov is very dear not only to his relatives, but also to many readers who appreciated his talent. Gradually, she made the rooms of the house available. A book for recording impressions also appeared.
House-museum
After the analysis of the archive of Anton Pavlovich's manuscript, his sister transferred many photographs and documents to the Rumyantsev Library for safekeeping. In 1912, on their basis, the Literary Museum and the Chekhov Library and Fund were created in the capital. Through the efforts of Chekhova, six volumes of her brother's letters were published. She also became a commentary on them.
In 1914, his brother's personal belongings were transferred to the Chekhova Museum in Taganrog. Maria Pavlovna attended the opening of the library and museum designed by Shekhtel, a friend of the writer. Since 1922, Maria Pavlovna was the director of the Yalta House-Museum created by her. In 1935 she visited Taganrog and together with Knipper-Chekhova took part in the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the writer's birth.
At the same time, the city school was named after Chekhov. For publishing the writer's legacy, Maria Pavlovna was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. In 1910 she established a Chekhov scholarship for a female gymnasium, whose board of trustees included her brother.
Maintaining the house in good condition was not easy. Only after 1921 the house became a museum officially. Chekhov was appointed its keeper. The earthquake of 1927 became a new problem. Over the next year, the building was renovated.
Only a year later, the museum began to receive visitors.
The attendance increased annually. Together with her brother, the keeper compiled a memoir catalog-guide. It was reprinted until 1963.
In 1940, Chekhov's house became a museum. In July 1944, Maria Pavlovna was awarded the order for forty years of keeping the writer's literary heritage. Since 1954, Chekhov's Readings, initiated by his sister, started in the writer's house. She dreamed that the traditions established by her brother would be preserved.
A remarkable woman died in Yalta in 1957, January 15.
