With historian Alexander by Nifontova we met in the alley of the old cemetery on the street Galich on the morning of the Ninth of may. With his wife Helen and son Vladimir he came to lay flowers on the grave of his father. On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the victory of Alexander was placed near the headstones of the father, a marble memorial stele, on which is placed the image of all military awards hero: order of the Patriotic war, order of the red star, medals “For victory over Germany” and “For a capture of Vienna”, the medal for 50 landings behind enemy lines… the Most unusual part of the memorial was a painting by the artist Alexander Laktionova “Letter from the front”.
– most Likely, at school, I saw this picture. She used to be in all the textbooks, she was known to every Soviet child. The original is in the Tretyakov gallery. This picture is here for a reason. The fact that the soldiers depicted in the painting is my father, – says Alexander Nifontov.
work on the painting “letter from the front” the artist Laktionov started shortly after the Victory. The story her painter gave case.
– Alexander Laktionov told me that one day in Zagorsk he met on the street a limping soldier, who was leaning on a stick. The soldier was clearly not a local. He stopped to ask directions, looking for his comrade. To his family he was carrying a letter from the front that the native was waiting for! Laktionov volunteered to hold it. On the way they talked, the artist was born the idea to create a picture of a joyful meeting and a long-awaited letter. That soldier, the artist no longer met. And when in 1946 he started to work, to have asked his disciple – my father, shares his family history Alexander Nifontov.
In the painting of his teacher, guard Vladimir Nifontov is depicted leaning on a stick and with a bandaged right hand.
– fortunately, during the war the father was wounded only once, easily. Destiny kept it. He went to the front in 18 years, together with his brother Gleb. The father was a prominent, beautiful, handsome, strong! Hit the guards in the most distinguished troops. All through Europe. Came to Vienna! Jumped with a parachute. Was awarded an honorary badge for 50 assaults behind enemy lines. And after the Victory went to Zagorsk to study painting Laktionova. And when the teacher asked him to pose for pictures – couldn’t refuse – says the son of a war veteran.
the fate of the painting “letter from the front” was unusual. When the artist finished work on a strict censors of the arts Council, it seemed “insufficiently heroic”: he began to curse because he “disgraced” the Soviet people, portraying a family home with rotten flooring.
– Laktionov told me that in the art gallery, his painting was placed in the farthest and darkest corner. But when the exhibition began to come people, it was happening�� unimaginable: visitors gathered from this place, and in the guest book wrote that “it’s the most honest picture about the war.” When she saw Stalin, he said that, for them, for their children and the mothers who give everything for the front for victory, the soldiers every day and went into battle. After that, the fate of the painting was resolved, – says Alexander Nifontov.
Picture, penetrated by sunlight and warm human joy derived from the front of the letter, had incredible success at the all-Union art exhibition. After the completion of the exhibition the painting “Letter from the front” has taken a worthy place in the halls of the State Tretyakov gallery, and the artist Laktionov for his work was awarded the Stalin prize.
Meanwhile, after finishing art training course in Zagorsk, guard Vladimir Nifontov returned to the homeland of his ancestors in Kostroma. He has taught students art and physical education, painted the building. In Kostroma he married, the family had two boys-the weather: nick and Sasha. But in 1954 the young family Nifontova experienced a terrible tragedy: seriously ill from a tick bite, three-year-old nick died.
– Kohl could not save. When he was buried, my mom was in the hospital – also died. I think that it will not save. And then in the same year died and the father, – says Alexander. When he was gone, I was three years old. I don’t remember how it happened. I only know the stories of relatives. That day my father went to paint the children’s summer camp. He was a driver in the cab of the truck. And by the way, they met a woman with a child. Dad gave them their place and climbed up into the truck. There was the sand. In one area the truck braked sharply, and the father of the body fell straight under the wheels of oncoming cars. She did, and crushed. Such a tragic set of circumstances! The war was – hardly any scratches – and here – such a disaster – says the son.
the monument to Vladimir Nifontov bears the inscription: “Eternal memory and glory to the guardsman, soldier and artist”.
a Few years ago, Alexander Nifontov arranged a posthumous exhibition of the works of his father in Moscow. His only son he named after him – Vladimir. As grandfather, Vladimir Nifontov, Jr. has devoted his life to painting and architecture.
on the Eve of the 75th anniversary of the Victory family of guardsman Vladimir Nifontova decided to perpetuate his memory in a special way.
– First, I came to the military enlistment office and asked if on the grave of every veteran to set a small plate with transfer of awards. I decided that, if such information boards will appear in the graveyard, it will have a huge educational effect: adults and children, passing by, makes you wonder about the heroes of the war, – said Alexander Nifontov.
However, the military CommissarATA the idea with tablets is not supported: expensive. And then the son of a war veteran decided to install on the cemetery stele in memory of his father at his own expense. He appealed to the military memorial company, which he helped to draw the layout of the marble monument. Along with the names of the awards the son asked the artists to make colored medallions with the image of his father’s medals and orders, and at the same time and be integrated in the stele reproduction from the picture.
– In the Studio with such orders has never faced. But, despite a delay in the construction due to the introduction of quarantine coronavirus, they were able to fulfill all accurately and on time. Graduated from the eighth of may. I am very grateful to them for such work! Family burial lot. Each draws them as it sees fit. But it seems to me that if each grave of a veteran to make at least a small sign with a story about the awards, it will be very important. Of course, order a stele in marble are expensive. To me, the monument has managed in 50 thousand roubles. But you can hang a plank, and simple information! It is available. To care for the graves of veterans of military funding. Maybe I’ll be able to do that for this? Once a year the “Immortal regiment” was held on the street – good. But if every time in the cemetery come the grandchildren, children, they will see it, and this sign will remind them about the war. I believe that I fulfilled his duty. And now would very much like to have supported this initiative and others. For good memory, – concluded Alexander Nifontov.
