Vasily Feoktistovich Kulakov

Vasily Feoktistovich Kulakov — a native of the village of Golovkovskaya (Vyshikovo) in Vel'sky Uyezd, an icon painter, artist, and a passionate collector of antiques. From childhood he strove for knowledge, but because of his background and his family's way of life he was able to obtain an education only in adulthood. He studied icon painting at the Solovetsky Monastery, where he became acquainted with the rich culture of the Russian North.

 

At the beginning of the 20th century his extensive collection was exhibited at the Vologda Agricultural Exhibition, and some items were included in Count Bobrinsky's album "Folk Russian Wooden Objects." Kulakov was the only representative of provincial Russia in that publication. In 1919, by resolution of the Velsk Uyezd Congress of Soviets, Kulakov's unique collection was nationalized and became the basis for the creation of the ethnographic department of the Velsk Local History Museum.