Plekhanov's problem, or how the great dialectic refused to recognize the father of Russian Marxism

As usual, I have to commend Amazon for selling everything, including this quasi-official portrait of George Plekhanov, also known as "the father of Russian Marxism". The old man has been a bone of contention for Marxists ever since... Many Bolsheviks probably became Marxists after reading Plekhanov's works, but Plekhanov himself - much to their dismay - opposed the Bolsheviks and was too right-wing even for most Mensheviks.

Plekhanov opposed the October Revolution, but since he died already in 1918, the Bolsheviks slyly appropriated his legacy, even naming a Marxist-Leninist institute after him?! Meanwhile, his dwindling band of supporters agitated for a constituent assembly with the Bolshevik secret police on their tails...

Trotsky also had problems with Georgi Valentinovich. Major problems. During his famous factional battle with Schachtman, Burnham and Abern, Trotsky strongly emphasized the necessity of dialectics for a correct political understanding. But, as his petty-bourgeois, profligate opponents loved to point out, Plekhanov had been *for* dialectics, yet ended up being an opponent of the October Revolution (and Trotsky himself)! Conversely, several Communist leaders, among them Karl Liebknecht, had rejected dialectics...

I'm not sure if the solution to this peculiar conundrum can be found in the published writings of citizen Plekhanov, or if we must look elsewhere for elucidation. Meanwhile, I suppose we can entertain ourselves by looking at his portrait...