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"I'm a mountaineer, I’m Abkhaz" December 24, in distant 1868 was born Prince Alexander K. Chachba (Shervashidze) - son of Prince Constantine Chachba, the youngest son of the last ruler of Abkhazia George Chachba (Shervashidze). One of the greatest reformers of theater and decorative art in Europe, the imperial stage artist, designer, slim and perceptive art critic, the first professional Abkhaz artist. Famous repertory stage designer and famous "Russian Seasons" by Sergei Diaghilev. Alexander Chachba - creator of one of the greatest scenery for productions of Diaghilev's troupe - Curtain ten square meters for the ballet "Blue Express", a sketch by Picasso and paintings of the painter "Two women running on the beach." Seeing the work of the artist Alexander Shervashidze, Picasso, issued in 1920 a series of productions of Diaghilev seasons “I was so pleased to have signed a curtain: "Dedicated to Diaghilev”- Picasso" . Curtain was presented in 1924 at the Paris premiere, costumes for the play were made by Coco Chanel. In 1968, the curtain was purchased by London's Victoria and Albert Museum, but because of its magnitude never exhibited. For the first time visitors could see it on a unique exhibition of the Museum in October 2012 in London, dedicated to the centennial of "Russian Seasons" by Sergei Diaghilev. The pupil of the famous teacher Fernand Cormon in Paris, where he met Alexei Tolstoy, V.Serov, Benois, Roerich, V.Brusov, K.Balmont, M.Voloshinym, Grabar. Since 1906, he heads one of the imperial art and decorative workshops. The Directorate of the Imperial Alexander Shervashidze was the most compelling stylist of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in the theatrical scenery. His sketches of scenery for the Gounod’s opera "Faust" is a significant achievement of the artist. "Prince A.Chachba-Shervashidze, a descendant of Abkhazian kings - the embodiment of oriental chivalric nobility, which today almost fairy rarity ..." - wrote in 1922 N.Evreinov, one of the most popular directors and playwrights of the time. Forced to leave St. Petersburg after his appointment as chief decorator of the Petrograd theaters, he went to Abkhazia since died, his cousin, poet, playwright, journalist and social activist Georgy Chachba (1846-1918). He immediately joined the work of the Sukhum artistic society (CAO), opened the theater courses, which trained Abkhaz youth. In the short term, together with the local fans, there have been several theatrical productions, and staging of the Abkhaz folk song "Wounded in the heart." All the sets and costumes were made by A.Chachba. "He was convinced of the need for publication of literature in the native Abkhaz language, textbooks, dictionaries, folk calendar, the history of Abkhazia, the need to relocate the Abkhaz language of the classics of Russian and world literature. The success of the education he sought to unite the efforts of artists of Abkhazia and world-renowned scientists, such as Marr and Orbeli, promoted cooperation with founder of Abkhaz literature D.Gulia and Marr. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, the artist in those years created many paintings and drawings of portraits of Abkhazians, painted landscapes enchanting nature. These works, as well as other historical treasures, were killed during the pogroms of the Menshevik. Heavy political situation A.Chachba forced to leave his homeland. " Since 1919 he works at the invitation of Diaghilev ballet company. Thanks to Diaghilev attracted to the work of famous artists, fashion designers in the creative union in Paris, he comes close to Picasso, Braque, Derain, with artists in his words, "of a new direction." The artist worked in theatrical productions in the most famous theaters in Europe. He created sketches of scenery and costumes for such works, marching in different theaters of the major cities of Europe and America, such as: "The Triumph of Neptune", "Prometheus", "Romeo and Juliet", "Swan Lake", "Shota Rustaveli" and others. Such performances as: "Marriage", "The Government Inspector" by N. Gogol, "Merry death" N.Evreinov, "A Month in the Country" by I.Turgenev, and others. The outstanding ballet dancer and choreographer of the twentieth century Sergei Lifar, in the dedicatory inscription on the catalog of the exhibition in Paris, held in 1972 wrote a review "In memory of the artist Shervashidze - consummate performer of theatrical paintings and artistic designs" Russian ballets of Diaghilev "- accomplice of artistic and theatrical revolution in the West." After the death of the spouse N Butkovskiy in 1948 Alexander Chachba lived alone in a difficult material conditions for twenty years. He wrote to his daughter in Sukhum : "... I was thinking about work, little about myself, so when my career is over decorator, I found myself without any means ..." (August 21, 1958.). The last 20 years he has lived alone in a boarding house for the elderly in Monaco, he died on 17 August 1968 and he was buried in Nice at the Russian cemetery. Despite the fact that he needed materially, he did not sell his work, and commanded them to his homeland. In 1958, he sent a gift of his homeland - Abkhazia, about 500 works and hoped that it will pave the way for the return. Only on May 12, 1985., his dream was realised: In the capital of Abkhazia - Sukhum, in a solemn ceremony held the reburial of the outstanding son of the people A. Chachba. In Russia, at the Theatre Museum in St. Petersburg in 1919, as part of the library collection of Montirovochno St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres were transferred to 400 sheets of sketches of the famous designer, Alexander Chachba.
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