Having learned about the artists of Palekh, Goethe had a burning desire to get to know the icons painted by harsh Russian peasants from snowy Rus'. As a result, the governor of the city of Vladimir sent him as a gift two icons painted by the Kaurtsev brothers: “The Twelfth Feasts” and “The Mother of God”

At the beginning of the 19th century, the German thinker Johann Goethe became interested in Palekh icon painting. Seeing Palekh icons in the Weimar church in Germany, he was amazed at how much they preserved Byzantine traditions. After learning about the artists of Palekh, Goethe was eager to get to know the icons painted by harsh Russian peasants from snowy Rus'. As a result, the governor of the city of Vladimir sent him as a gift two icons painted by the Kaurtsev brothers: “The Twelfth Feasts” and “The Mother of God”.

Russian writer Maxim Gorky played a big role in the development of Soviet Palekh. As a teenager, he himself worked in the icon-painting workshop of the Paleshan Salabanov in Nizhny Novgorod, and subsequently sent many books on art to the Paleshans. Gorky also laid the foundation for the Palekh Museum, proposing to organize a "room of samples"; advised Golikov as an illustrator of The Tale of Igor's Campaign. As a result, the writer was elected an honorary member of the Palekh artel.

"Palekh is one of the little miracles of the revolution" – Maxim Gorky

"Then they call me to Gorky for a meeting with a delegation of Palekh masters. They are returning from a month and a half trip to Turkestan and Armenia, bringing back an album of beautiful drawings made on the basis on studying manuscripts and architectural decorum. … They give me a copy of the beautiful, superbly illustrated book The Tale of Igor’s Campaign. … It is felt that the spirit of professional pride and solidarity unites them. … the youth of Palekh is very strict in appearance. They are reminiscent of the craftsmen of old Flanders."

The French writer Romain Rolland, a friend of Maxim Gorky, also highly appreciated Palekh art.