The fact that people's talent often manifests itself in many directions has long been known. Do you know such personalities as Gogol, Tolstoy, Prokofiev? Of course, many recall them as writers and composers. But the fact that the first could become a good cook, and the second - a musician, is known not to everyone.
Gogol could be a cook
The classic of Russian literature and the author of "Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka" not only knew how to write outstanding works. He had outstanding culinary skills. And they opened to him while studying the folk life of Rome. In addition to writing, studying monuments of antiquity, he was interested in Italian cuisine.
At one time, Gogol was given several lessons by local chefs, revealing some secrets. This helped the writer to master the craft faster. Most of all, the classic liked to cook traditional pasta. After returning to Russia, he tried to instill a love of Italian dish with his friends. But the plan did not succeed, and they did not like the pasta dish new to the Russian person.
Nikolai Vasilievich was more interested in the process of cooking, and not the result. Once, while visiting Aksakov, he decided to cook his favorite pasta. Observers from the outside say that the writer was doing this with particular enthusiasm.
A musician could leave Tolstoy
In addition to literature, Lev Nikolaevich was no less interested in music. The writer could spend days at the piano and play music. Moreover, he equally liked both the national Russian melodies and the works of Chopin. After the Count opened a school in Yasnaya Polyana, Lev Nikolaevich began to teach children singing lessons. They studied both Russian folk songs and the arias of Italian composers.
It just so happened that Lev Nikolaevich did not have a professional musical education. But, despite the lack of academic knowledge, the writer was able to compose a waltz with a friend. As it turned out, he was not happy with his offspring.
After a while, closer to death, Tolstoy refused the work, which everyone considered his creation. He admitted on the pages of his notebook that he had deceived everyone. In a fit of self-flagellation, the writer wrote that the waltz belongs to Zybinsky, and he simply stole it. After that, he was allegedly ashamed to admit his misconduct. Despite these assurances, most researchers are confident that Tolstoy still participated in the creation of the musical work.
Victor Marie Hugo painted
With eight years, the future great writer became interested in drawing. He chose ink and pencil as a tool for creativity. Frequent themes of his creations are gloomy medieval architecture, subjects on fantastic motifs.
The predominant color palette of Victor Marie's works is dark shades. The drawings were dominated by brown, black and white tones. It is noteworthy that often to create his work, he used coffee to achieve warm woody tones. It is believed that in some works the writer even used his blood to achieve the desired color.
There are about 4 thousand works, the creation of which is attributed to the hand of Victor Hugo. Famous artists living in the writer's time appreciated Hugo's talent. In particular, the French painter Eugene Delacroix recognized his talent in drawing. He argued that by becoming an artist, Hugo could surpass the painters of our time. The writer was not alien to the tendency to experiment. It is known that he tried to paint by squinting, or with his left hand, being a right-handed person.
Sergey Sergeevich Prokofiev - played great chess
Having become interested in music, Prokofiev was simultaneously interested in chess. He considered the intellectual game a special world, into which he plunged headlong. It was a world of struggle of passions and plans.
Throughout his life, he calmly combined both classes, which brought him satisfaction. There is even a musical manuscript of Sergey Sergeyevich, on one side of which is a musical composition, on the other - the position of an unfinished chess game. A certain cult of accuracy, which Prokofiev professed all his life, helped him succeed in both fields throughout his life.
"Chess is the music of thought, " claimed the Russian composer. Thanks to his intellectual abilities, Prokofiev played worthily. But having an inquiring mind, he wanted to bring something of his own to the rules. For example, the composer at one time did not leave the idea of using a hexagonal board with similar fields for playing. Approximate people noticed that while writing music for "Romeo and Juliet" he was passionate about other activities. Namely, a game on the field, which Sergey Sergeyevich made up of 12 standard boards.
