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Fwd: Petr Ivanovich Pnin, 'Game of checkers'
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----- Forwarded message from gshiman@optonline.net -----
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005 23:44:37 -0400
From: George Shimanovich <gshiman@optonline.net>
Reply-To: George Shimanovich <gshiman@optonline.net>
Subject: Petr Ivanovich Pnin, 'Game of checkers'
To: 'Vladimir Nabokov Forum'
While browsing through 'Art of 18th - beginning of 20th centuries' from
funds of State Russian Museum of St. Petersburg I came upon painting by Petr
Ivanovich Pnin, 'Game of checkers', dated 1824. The painting shows three
boys and their teacher after the game that ended with victory of one of the
boys. The pose and mimic tell the story. It should be noted that boys have
portrait like features and were likely students of younger classes of
Academy of Arts that Petr Pnin was graduating at the time. I did not find
that little fact in my small collection of commentaries to 'Pnin'. I did
find, however, the reference to Ivan Petrovich Pnin - the father of the
painter, who was well known writer of the end of 18th century, friend of
Radischev and held anti-serfdom views. I like to think that boy with light
brown hair who won the game - the one on the left side of the painting, - is
Victor Wind himself.
Regards,
George Shimanovich
PS: Am I the only one to notice that Joe Morgan's pleas (even post chess
retouching) remain, alas, un-answered?
----- End forwarded message -----