M. Tchernichoff

Overview

M. Tchernichoff, an elderly Russian ladies' man met at Nice in April 1874 and seen in Paris and Nice that year and again in Paris in 1878–80 («le vieil irrésistible»). Mon Journal t.3 index «Tchernichoff (M.), 165–166». Marie keeps him apart from the Nice physician: «M. Tchernichoff, celui qui était dernièrement à Nice; celui qui a épousé Mme Ketly, qui dit-on, a empoisonné sa première femme, pas le docteur Tchernichoff enfin» (024.0122); the doctor is #Dr Tchernichoff.

In Marie's diary

• 19 April 1874 (Nice): introduced to her mother the day before, he calls. Marie, writing in English, reports «a very bad story about him»: his first wife poisoned herself, some say was poisoned, and he then married the woman who had caused it; «they say no woman can resist him», but she finds him «an old dog with almost rude manners», a second Lautrec. He shares her word poussière for common people, takes the family to the exhibition and to London House for ices (018.0310–018.0330).
• 27–29 September 1874 (Paris): he meets them on the way to church, goes to the races, leaves a basket of fruit, goes with them to the shops (024.0122, 024.0123, 024.0150, 024.0156–024.0158).
• 29 November 1874 (Nice): «M. Tchernichoff qui est arrivé il y a de cela quelques jours. Véritablement je crains pour ma tante, on le dit dangereux» (027.0073).
• 1878–80 (Paris), spelled «Tchernicheff» (merged entry TCHERNICHEFF): «Tchernicheff, le vieil irrésistible» calls Cassagnac «Enfant terrible» (081.0399); «Tchernicheff, le vieil irrésistible vient», in whose presence a note from Bashkirtseff is brought (083.0436, 24 December 1878); «Tchernicheff à déjeuner, il est de passage ici» (087.0555, 29 February 1880). The epithet echoes the «no woman can resist him» of 1874 (0.8).

Identity uncertain

His first name is not given, and his two marriages («Mme Ketly») are Marie's report of gossip. If you can identify him, we would be glad to hear from you.