According to legend, it was in the town of Staraya Ladoga that the history of the Russian State began. It was there that Prince Rurik, who led the first dynasty of Russian tsars, built his fortress. Nowadays Staraya Ladoga is a small village and museum-reserve outside of St. Petersburg. It is home to husband and wife Boris Vasilyev and Tatyana Kozmina, an art historian and an artist. In their own way this pair is working to preserve the rich history of this place, which is of key importance to Russia’s past. While Boris Grigorevich is working hard studying ancient frescoes from the 12th century, Tatyana Andreyevna is creating artwork of the 21st century. Her work is on display not only in exhibition halls and museums, but in the couple’s own home, which itself has become one of Staraya Ladoga’s sights to see.