Francis Haskell and Larissa Salmina’s meeting in Venice in 1962 was a meeting of two worlds. Francis, an Englishman from a minor Jewish family, was an uptight and somewhat depressed individual, while Larissa, a Russian, had experienced the hardships of the siege of Leningrad and the terror of Stalin’s purges. Neither of them expected to fall in love and neither of them particularly welcomed it, as Pears writes in his book. Francis had been brought up to be an English gentleman, attending Eton and then King’s College, Cambridge. Larissa, on the other hand, came from minor Russian nobility but had thrown her lot in with the Communists during the Russian Revolution. Some key points about their backgrounds are:
- Francis was born into a minor Jewish family and attended Eton and King’s College, Cambridge
- Larissa was born in Leningrad (now St Petersburg) and came from minor Russian nobility
- Larissa’s family survived the siege of Leningrad and Stalin’s purges
Their meeting in Venice in 1962 was an unexpected encounter. Francis was a librarian of Cambridge University’s fine art faculty, while Larissa was chosen to lead the Soviet delegation to the Venice Biennale. They talked for hours and Francis found her “wholly delightful, full of enthusiasm… exceedingly intelligent and cultivated”.
| Image | Francis and Larissa | Location |
Francis pursued Larissa, despite her being married to a Russian naval officer. However, Larissa soon took charge of their relationship and secured a divorce from her first husband. They eventually married in Moscow in 1965. Their path to a life together was not smooth. Larissa faced numerous bureaucratic hurdles, including obtaining a divorce and relocating to England. Francis, who was appointed professor of history of art at Oxford University, was a changed man after his marriage. His self-doubt receded and Larissa became “the focal point of his world, giving him life and purpose”. Some notable events in their life together include:
- Larissa’s arrival in England
- Francis’s appointment as professor of history of art at Oxford University
- Larissa’s work as a renowned expert on Russian art
Despite the challenges they faced, the couple was extremely happy and visited up to five museums a day on their travels. The book is a warm and sympathetic portrayal of their relationship. Pears draws on their diaries and conversations with Larissa, who passed away recently at the age of 93.
“It was a perfect match,” says Pears. “They were both very different, but they complemented each other perfectly.”
The book is a testament to the power of love to overcome even the most daunting challenges. Despite the odds against them, Francis and Larissa were able to build a happy and fulfilling life together. Their story is a reminder that love knows no borders, and that two people from different backgrounds can come together and find happiness.
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