Mikhail Mikeshin
Russian artist, sculptor and writer (b. 9/21 February 1835 in Roslavl, near Smolensk; d. 19/31 January 1896 in Saint Petersburg), born Mikhail Osipovich Mikeshin (Михаил Осипович Микешин).
A student of the Imperial Academy of Arts from 1852 to 1858, his pictures of historical scenes won him the admiration of Russian royalty, and he was a tutor to junior members of the Imperial family. His first major sculptural work was the Millennium of Russia at Novgorod (1859). From 1876 to 1878 he also edited a satirical magazine The Bee (Пчела)
When Mikeshin met Tchaikovsky in Saint Petersburg in September 1893, the composer agreed to write a March based on two folk tunes suggested by Mikeshin, although this was not accomplished before Tchaikovsky's death a few weeks later.
Correspondence with Tchaikovsky
One letter from Tchaikovsky to Mikhail Mikeshin has survived, dating from 1893, and has been translated into English on this website:
- Letter 5026 – 3/15 September 1893 (?), from Saint Petersburg
Bibliography
- Памяти П. И. Чайковского (1893)
- Забытый эпизод (1940)
- Памяти П. И. Чайковского (1969)
- Белорусский автограф Чайковского (1984)
