This work was created by Timofey Ilyinov, a long-time friend of Vitaly Zakrutkin. The back of the painting features a dedication,

The writer Vitaly Zakrutkin fought on the Caucasian Front from 1942 to 1943. For his bravery and participation in battles, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the medal “For the Defense of the Caucasus”.

Thus, the view of the peaceful Caucasus and the enchanting Pyatigorye brought the writer joy, serving as a reminder of “how beautiful the earth is and how worthy of love it is”, as well as of the terrible and hateful nature of war.

The painting by Timofey Ilyinov, titled “Lake… Zheleznovodsk. View of Mount Beshtau”, inspired Vitaly Zakrutkin to live and create.

Timofey Ilyinov was a master of landscape painting, capturing the nature of the Don region throughout the seasons. He once gifted Zakrutkin a painting titled “Autumn Forest”, which depicts a path strewn with foliage and features two figures — a man and a woman, representing Zakrutkin and his wife, Natalya Vasilyevna. Ilyinov’s painting “Lake in Zheleznovodsk. View of Mount Beshtau” captivates every viewer who visits the museum with its expressiveness and authenticity.