A Trip to the City of Vitebsk

The goals of going to Vitebsk were visits to the old part of the city, to the museum of Mark Shagal, and to Iliya Repin’s manor “Zdravniovo”.

The walking tour began in the historical center of Vitebsk, near the monument to a famous Belarusian writer Vladimir Korotkevich.

The tour went to significant places of the city. On our way we saw interesting art-objects, created by modern local artists.

The portrait of Mark Shagal.

The monument to a famous soviet musicologist, theatre and music critic Ivan Sollertinsky.

The monument “To the Heroes of 1812 War” was erected in 1912 on voluntary donations from residents of the city.

The inscription on the monument reads: “To immortal valor of the heroes of Patriotic War, participants in the battles near Vitebsk on July 13,14,15, and October 26, 1812”

Not far from this monument there is a memorial to soldiers-liberators who fell during the liberation of Vitebsk in 1944 during the Great Patriotic War.  

Memorial complex to soldiers-liberators.

Then the walking tour came to the Holy Assumption Cathedral, founded in the XVIII century. The cathedral had been ruined in 1936, and then reconstructed in 2010.

Holy Assumption Cathedral

The monument “Vitebsk Giant”

Art-object of local modern artists

The tour ended in the “museum of all museums” – the house-museum of Mark Shagal. Here we learnt about life path milestones of the great artist, about Shagal’s way to becoming an outstanding master.

The stone house where Mark Shagal lived.

The final destination of the day was a manor of Russian painter Iliya Repin “Zdravniovo”. The manor was bought by the artist himself. He spent here eight summer seasons from 1892 to 1900, and created more than 60 works during this time.

Reconstructed manor house

The guide told about the history of purchasing the manor, as well as about famous paintings which had been created here.

For his work “Zaporozhtsy” the artist received 35 000 roubles in silver from the Russian Emperor Alexander III. After the painting has been sold, Iliya Repin bought the manor in May 1892.

The copy of purchasing documents

The most famous of the artist’s works “Zaporozhtsy”

Reconstructed interior of the artist’s workplace

Paintings which were created in the manor

Self-portrait, portraits of the artist’s wife and son

We thank Rector’s office and BSAA Trade Union for this emotional and bright trip.

Associate professor of department of production organization in AIC I.V.Polkhovskaya

Senior lecturer of department of technical service N.D.Polkhovsky