undated and unfinished

Ketevan Magalashvili, Portrait of Ana Kalandadze.

They met in 1919...  a gifted young painter Ketevan Magalashvili and a highly educated artist Dimitri Shevardnandze, who had returned from Munich several years earlier. The relationship that could be described as a romance was terminated in 1937 when Dimitri Shevardnande was exhecuted.

Ketevan Magalashvili’s archive has preserved letters from Dimitri Shevardnandze, starting from the 1920s. Unfortunatley, Ketevan’s letters to Dimitri do not survive, however, poet Ana Kalandadze’s records exist, dating back to the time when the painter was working on her portrait.

‘Ana, I want you to know this!’- Ketevan Magalashvili often used to say and this promoted me to record her narrative with a shorthand accuracy.’- Ana Kalandadze, Translations and Prosaic Works, tbilisi, 1996.

‘When a picture does not appeal to me I tear it up. Perhaps I am making a mistake by doing so. Iakob Nikoladze kept telling Dito Shevardnande to take the pictures away from me. What she does is abnormal. Dito did indeed preserve some of my works but after his arrest everything got lost... He sacrificed his life to Metekhi and I imagine his grave is close to it!’

Ketevan Magalashvili

‘Ketina,

I have already written a reply to your first letter (though it was a hasty reply). I hope that by now you have already recieved the letter along with fifty million manetis. Tomorrow, on Sunday, Mikheil Zandukeli will be traveling to Borjomi, so I am taking this opportunity to send this message to you. Both of your letters have an air of nervousness about them. I am very fond of your chatting though. The main reason for your unrest is the lack of funds. Please calm down, my dear and do not worry about it. I have sent you fifty million and I am going to forward some more shortly. Don’t restrict yourself in meals and make sure that you benefit from your stay there. I will try to join you by all means... Keto, I take the plan of your travel very seriously. For this reason I viist the Commisariat nearly every day. Yesterday, on July 13 the comissioner signed a paper regarding one hundred pounds and the paper has been sent somewhere. In short, have no worries about that.

Yesterday, I finished work on the medal and delivered it to Kandelaki. It appealed to them very much and they sent it to the central committee. Still, it could be rejected.

Well, what can I tell you about the news here? It has been very hot and the heat disturbed us. Today (it’s a Saturday) it is rainy and we can breathe a little. I miss you immensley and I would be happy to see you. I will try somehow to come for a day...’

Letter to Ketevan Magalashvili from Dimitri Shevardnandze, Tbilisi, undated and unfinished.

Ketevan Magalashvili and Dimitri Shevadnadze

‘Dito Shevardande was a very active person, full of energy. There are many good painters but... deprived of this trait’
Ketevan noted.

‘Keto,

Mito has delivered your letter to me. I also recieved a telegram from Tamar. Archil found a driver from Tianeti and learned that the car is going back on September 1st so I am getting ready to travel that day. I have obtained a three day leave from the Ministry of Education. What bad luck! On th very day of my deparchure Archil told me that the car turned out to be so damaged that it needed a months repair to be fixed. Now it is impossible to travel by car and he suggested riding horses. Here we had no luck either. See, how unlucky I am! I barely managed to get free for three days and then failed to use it. Now I am back to work again and I will remain here until it’s done. The art gallery is arranging an exhibition of old masters’ works. The paintings are going to be collected both from public institutions and private collectors. Holding this exhibition requires a freat deal of effortm including traveling out of town. For example, I was advised that there are around a hundred old pictures in one family in Tsinandali. I must go there and see them and if they turn put to be interesting, I will bring them for the exhibition.

I’ll probably travel this week. How close to you I will be! But O won’t be able to come over to your place. Keto, maybe someone has old paintings in Tianeti as well. If so, please try to bring them for the exhibition.

I must reveal the truth to you. I miss you so much! Mito told me ‘Keto has gained so much weight that we are even making fun of her!’. I hope your mother and Tamar are also feeling well. How interesting it is to see you...

Take care of your health and leave the rest to me to look after. I will find you such a job that you will want for nothing. I have recently bought oil paints for you for five thousand Manetis. They will last you a long time. We have plenty of canvases as well and my studio is at your disposal. So, the only thing that you would need is your health and energy. I do hope you will bring them along with you.

You are complaining in your letter that my letters to you are too short, but there is nothing much that I can write to you about. I have been very busy this summer but I think you would find it boring if I kept writing to you all about it and there was nothing intereserting there.’

Tbilisi, September 3, 1920 (Unfinished letter from Dimitri Shevardnandze to Ketevan Magalashvili)

“Third-rate paintings from Russia were to be sent to the republics. Dito refused, saying that he was going to found a Georgian Louvre in Georgia. Dito was right. If the decision were up to me, l'd have filtered out all the museums, leaving only the fine quality pictures."

"My dear Keto,

Hello from Moscow! I traveled like a pasha and I've been well accommodated here thanks to the Kaluzhskis

As soon as I arrived, that is, on the 15 February, the Kaluzhskis took me to their place. They spoke of all of you with much love and of you in particular. Eliso asked me why you were not writing to her. I told her you were a piglet and that's why... didn't I tell her the truth?... I haven't been to theatres at all. I was too busy, I have too many things to get done. Now I'm going to see Zdanevich. Finding his address turned out to be a hard job.

I do hope l'll manage to buy pictures from him. Yesterday Nata, Kolia Shengelaia and I had dinner together and drank to your health. Nata has had her hair cut short and it becomes her very much...

Moscow, February 18, 1930.

"I'm very fond of jewelry," she told me, taking the ring off her finger. A young rider was carved on the carnelian (the stone was a present from by Dito Shevardnadze, Dito had a collection of many precious gems and stones)..."

"All my efforts at criticizing you before Eliso and Zhenia (for your piggishness) have failed. They still love you and drink to your health. I can do nothing about it and I am joining them.

Dito"

...I hate writing letters. And it's so utterly disrespectful when you are not responding to the letters you receive!"

Moscow, February 22, 1930.

Dimitri Shevardnadze, Ketevan Magalashvili and Davit Kakabadze

"Keto,

Your folks at home are upset because you are not writing to them. It won't be a big deal if you would send them postcards occasionally. We hear news about you from other people.

Neither your family nor myself have heard anything from you for quite some time. Stop being that piglet, will you... Dito"

Tbilisi, April 25, 1930.

"Ketevan could not conceal her amazement when in one article Dito Shevardnadze happened to be a director of the State Art Gallery. 'Dito Shevardnadze was not the director but the founder of this gallery, she told me. 'Dito established its fund, he brought pictures from everywhere, even from private collectors! ...Dito knew how to arrange expositions with such exquisite taste that even the Germans were astonished when the exhibition opened there. He had also organized an exhibition in Moscow."

Ketevan Magalashvili, Portrait of Dimitri Shevardnadze

"My dear Keto,

It's been a fortnight already that I left Tbilisi and haven't managed to write a proper letter to you... my trip abroad was scheduled for the 21 of this month but it has been put off. They told me it's going to happen soon though. I don't know what the outcome is going to be... Since we have plenty of time, the day before yesterday, on November 23"a , we arranged the exhibition of

Pirosmani's pictures... There was a grand opening in the Museum of Fine Arts (the former Museum of Alexander I).

...I received a telegram from Giorgi Natidze saying that he was planning to buy Pirosmani's "The Ortachala Beauty". Has he bought it? I wrote him to buy it. If the picture has already been purchased, please tell Susana to make a shot of it and sent three copies to Moscow. Also tell her to print the following photos of Pirosmani's pictures: 1) The hen and the chickens (the small one), 2) The hen and the chickens (the big one) belonging to Titsian Tabidze and 3) Baking bread in a tone. Please send the photos to Eliso's address... I'd appreciate if Giorgi could write me in detail about the gallery... Dito"

Moscow, November 25, 1930.

"Dito was collecting Pirosmani's pictures. That is why the director of the Mirzaani Museum asked me to sell Dito Shevardnadze's portrait to the Mirzaani Museum. I refused by telling him that if I decided to give Dito Shevardnadze's portrait away, I'd hand it over only to the museum that he founded in Tbilisi."

"Greetings, Keto!

It has been a long time since | last wrote you. You haven't been prolific either. Here in Leningrad I've got as much time now as i want so I keep writing letters to everybody.

Yesterday, on December 25, we had the opening of the exhibition of the Pirosmanishvili's paintings. In Moscow the opening day was much more formal. Here the atmosphere we more intimate and warmer. Many painters came, introduced themselves and thanked me. "It is a great occasion for all of us here. Pirosmanishvili offers a stimulating experiences. His works enlighten and invigorate. It's a pity that you cannot stay longer The same day one group of painters invited me to their studio (at Lebedev's) and we were discussing Pirosmani until two o clock in the morning...

Your Dito"

Leningrad, December 25, 1930

"Kornelia von Fewerberg has sent Rembrandt's big album as a gift from Holland. The album has nearly everything in it she says, but it still isn't comprehensive. She also said the in Munich she saw his "Rabbi" (from a private collection) and it was so fantastic that although she hates writing letters, sne sat down and wrote a letter to Dito Shevardnadze telling him that she'd seen such and such painting of Rembrandt."

"Dear Keto,

I'm writing from Moscow as I have promised. I arrived here from Leningrad on December 1st

.had all the museum exhibits packed

in Hermitage by November 20, but I've been delayed because sending the unaccompanied baggage turned out to be a big problem...

By the way, there's some news that want to share with you Something that was absolutely unexpected for me. I am invited to Leningrad by "Lenfilm" as a consultant for "The Trip to Arzrum" I must be back in Leningrad again by January 1*

... Could you

come to Moscow by that time or to Leningrad for that matter?

That's it, my dear Ketevan. Such is the news update from here.

I was expecting a letter from you would be waiting at Eliso's, but you turned out to be even worse than I am.

Don't want to bore you anymore. Your Dito is writing to you at three a.m. on the third day of this month.

Dito"

Moscow, December 3, 1936.

“I hate being idle, unoccupied with my work. What on earth can be a more pleasant load for an artist? I'd be happy to work day and night..."

Dimitri Shevardnadze, Mikheil Chiaureli, Ketevan Magalashvili and Lado Gudiashvili.

"Happy New Year, Keto!

I arrived in Leningrad on January 1°instead of December 30th.

The train from Tbilisi was thirteen hours late and all the trains for Leningrad had left already. Therefore, I had to spend one more day at Eliso's place. Eliso thought that you were coming together with me and she and Olga waited for you till four o'clock in the morning. spoke with Tamar by telephone. She was very sorry to learn that you haven't arrived...

I am staying at the Astoria hotel. It is a warm room with a bathroom. We have already started working on the film. They took my advice and have redone the script those pieces that are about Georgia. They'll start shooting soon. We might be going to Moscow for a couple of days to record Georgian songs there.

The weather in Leningrad is terribly rainy. I really prefer Moscow's frosts...

Regards to everyone and all the best, Dito"

Leningrad, January 5, 1937.

"When Dito Shevardnadze was dismissed from the director's post (several months before his arrest), many of them was particularly striking - someone who used to be with him day and night. I couldn't stand it and told him in Grigol Tseretel's presence, 'What a sly man that friend of yours!"

'Don't say so, Ketevan, he said. Then Grigol turned to Dito:

"Yes, Ketevan is right. She calls everything by their true names.'

Dito would never say anything bad about anyone. li happened extremely rarely if at all."

Dimitri Shevardnadze

"Dear Keto,

Today Valiko Eristavi is coming to Borjomi. If recove the money today or tomorrow (on Saturday, be coming together with Mikhako by all means on Sunday it.ornito, If 1 don" get the money yet, then I'll have to wait till I'm paid. Keto, my dear, please dont worry. Wait for me and we'll come back together. All major things have been arranged already. There has been no reply from Germany yet but we'll see to that as well. In short, all your concerns on the issue are futile and your rush to come back is a hasty decision...

Keto, I asked Valiko to lend you twenty million mamats until I arrive. He has money now. So, please have no wor When we spoke by telephone today, I could hardly hear you a couldn't make out much of what you were saying. I only understood that you were planning to leave and I asked you to wail Valiko is going to tell you everything in detail...

Your Dito"

Tbilisi, July 28 (the year is not indicated)

"Dito had an idea of having a new building constructed for the museum on the Metechi territory. At that time (1937) preparations for Rustaveli's anniversary celebrations were underway. Beria wanted to demolish the Metachi church and have a statue of Rustaveli there. Dito brough: some eminent representatives of the city's intelligentsia together and they went to see Beria. It seemed they persuaded Beria to change his mind, but after the audience was over Beria asked Dito to stay. T'll have you bring the church down with your own hands,' he said."

"Dear Keto,

I have just received your letter and I am worried that you are so nervous. Please calm down, my dear, and don't be carcerned about anything. Your affairs seem to be progressing piety well.

The Commissariat for Education has already purchased one hundred pounds sterling for you in the bank. Your passport will also be ready soon. I am collecting myself all the information that they require and thus speeding up the process. Today Baron and I are writing a document where we commit to being your guarantors. So, dear Keto, have no worries.

As far as my arrival is concerned, it all depends on money because I must bring Mikhako with me and, therefore, I need money for that. Keto, I will come by all means and please wait for me there. If necessary, you will return to Tbilisi together with me.

We haven't received our salaries yet. As soon as I get the money, I'll come immediately. But please be patient till then. All of your folks are keeping well. At this point I don't have a chance to let them know about this possibility of sending a letter to you because the young man who has delivered your letter is waiting for me to finish this message.

Ketina, scolding me for having forgotten you is really unjust.

Because I have never missed an opportunity to write to you if there was anyone travelling to your place.

Anyway, Keto, wait until I arrive. I'll come by all means, I'm just waiting for the money.

That's it.

Please take care and don't worry,

Your Dito"

Tbilisi (no date)

"One night Dito knocked at my door... I realized that things were really bad. He returned the two thousand manats that he had kept for me in his safe for my brother's medical treatment.

He also gave me his pocket watch which I later gave to his cousin. But she returned it to me very soon saying that the watch should be with me.... Shortly after that Dito was arrested..."

Zaira Berelidze