Who's the big artist here? Mamonov - in poverty, mediocrity - in luxury

At one time, I wrote a post - and even wrote a column - about what is somehow wildly happening in the glorious country of Russia: all sorts of boobies and buffoons receive the titles of People's Artists, Honored Artists, while the true heroes remain unrecognized. More precisely, they are adored by the people, but the authorities somehow wrinkle their powdered noses on their sleek faces.

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I wrote that post – and column, yes – after Pyotr Mamonov’s wife (he was alive then), Olga, asked to give the title to her husband. And then, as we remember, Pyotr Nikolaevich - the great holy fool - passed away. Olga contacted me for completely reasonable reasons - and nothing more.

So what I'm reading in the media now. Olga, already a widow, sells some of the Mamonovs’ property. The media, however, present this in a dirty “yellow” way - but when did they know how to do otherwise? - they say the items are on sale. This is certainly a bit of an exaggeration. So far we are talking, in particular, about the sale of a screen for a projector - the cost is 400 thousand rubles - which was planned to be used for the theatrical program of Pyotr Mamonov “Grandfather Peter and the Hares”. Really, what does the widow need it for now?

However, the jaundiced presentation of journalists does not negate the fact that Mamonov’s widow, let’s say, is not particularly spoiled by money. And, in fact, he feels a certain need. What can I say if the couple recently lived under the threat of a power outage? Here is Olga’s direct speech:

“I’m not pretending to be poor. I'm just a realist and I think soberly. We are beggars. Write that way. And then they tell all sorts of nonsense about us: “Peter Mamonov left behind a multimillion-dollar inheritance.” Where are these millions? All that he saved up - about 400 thousand rubles for our funeral - is still on his card ... "

Here, on the one hand, everything is very simple: Pyotr Nikolaevich, again from the words of his loved ones, for the last ten years of his life wanted to pray and bow, and not earn money. The last one is not about him at all. Which, by the way, I myself have witnessed more than once. However, there is another side to this. How did it happen in principle that a great (okay, great, very great) musician, actor, poet found himself in such a difficult situation? Can you imagine some David Bowie living out his life like this in some England or America? And how is it that every bastard who sings his meaningless and empty couplets “to the tune of plywood” receives the titles of People’s and Honored Artists, swims in dough, while the real heroes remain in the shadows?

But, in fact, it is not they who need money and recognition - not Mamonov; he is forever in history - this is necessary for the people, the country, if you like. Because we finally need to understand that it is precisely with such situations that we program the system, and it, obviously, singles out and extols the wrong people, and this, in turn, gives rise to future problems. Ashamed. Let us remember, by the way, how the brilliant Vitsin lived out his life. Such a system causes nothing but disgust. In fact, she is doomed if she does not finally think about who she wants to marry in the first row.