A. Ivanova. Fragment of the Mural "Climbing Elbrus"

The Ukrainian-language inscription in simple pencil under the photograph reads: "Ivanova A.M. Fragment of the fresco 'Climbing Elbrus'". However, another photograph of a larger mural fragment, with a simple pencil inscription in Ukrainian, reads: "Lezviiev M. V. Climbing Elbrus. Fresco from 1936 in Nalchyk. Zatyshshia". On other fragments with portraits of individuals from this mural, Mykhailo Lezviiev is listed as the sole author. However, in a photograph from the same archive, a russian-language inscription in blue ink on the back of the photograph reads: "Ivanova Antonina Mykol., Lezviiev Mykhailo Vasylovych 'Battle for Elbrus' fresco. Detail. Nalchyk. Zatyshshia. 1925". Another photograph with the same fragment, in the same handwriting in russian, in blue ink, reads: "Detail of the fresco "Climbing Elbrus" Nalchyk 1936 by A. Ivanov". Such variability and contradictions may have backgrounds we cannot establish, and it is speculative to make hypotheses. Therefore, based on the analysis of known archival materials and a comparative analysis of paintings, we consider it appropriate to assume that the year of execution is 1936. As for the authors, they likely created the fresco in collaboration, which was a frequent phenomenon in their practice of this period. For example, one of the photographs from Antonina Ivanova's archive of the "Kabardian period" has an inscription that Mykhailo Lezviiev created the work based on a sketch by Antonina Ivanova. As for the subject matter of the work, the researchers note, "The subject of the first mountaineering ascents for Nalchyk in the 1930s is very important because they involved the top officials of the republic, the already mentioned B. Kalmykov and D. Zvontsov, who led those expeditions" (for details: Khorunzha, H., & Maksymiv, M. (2022). Boychukist Mykhailo Lezviiev: Unknown heritage (Works from the collection and archive of Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery). Obrazotvorche Mystetsvo [Fine Arts], 3–4, 94–97. Kyiv and Khorunzha, H., & Maksymiv, M. (2023). Boychukist Mykhailo Lezviiev: Unknown heritage (Works from the collection and archive of Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery). Obrazotvorche Mystetsvo [Fine Arts], 1–2, 82–85. Kyiv).

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery