Two hunters.

Two hunters. Photo of 1911 Petersburg. Russian poet and writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin and Fyodor Ivanovich Chaliapin, a brilliant Russian opera singer. Kuprin's literary legacy, dedicated to the theme of hunting, is a precious part of the Russian hunting classics. Hunting was one of Alexander Kupruns hobbies. Kuprin hunted a lot and often, but he was not a professional hunter at all. When experienced hunters, attracted in particular by his novel “Hunting Grouse”, met him on a hunt they were somewhat disappointed, calling him a simple amateur. Kuprin was not interested in hunting itself, but in the sensations during hunting, the flight of birds, the running of animals, and the experiences of hunters. As a real writer, he went country side not for hunt itself but for an inspiration. Fyodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was also not a professional hunter, but he was an incredibly enthusiastic hunter. Hunting was both a recreation and a pleasure for the artist. When hunting, he forgot about everything in the world and shot with gusto, so it was sometimes unsafe to be near him. This is evidenced by the memories of Chaliapin's friends who shared this noble passion with him. Chaliapin had a really wonderful Belgian rifle made to order at the Liege Firearms manufactory. This double-barreled shotgun of the twentieth caliber was intended for hunting small game and poultry. The bed is made of walnut wood and decorated with fine mesh. Anson and Delay locks with beautiful floral ornaments. The name of the manufacturer, its location, the date of the factory's foundation and information about the prize received at the exhibition in Paris in 1900 are marked on the inter-barrel bar. It is currently on display at the Chaliapin Memorial Estate on Novinsky Boulevard.