Influential Patrons of the Arts: 5 Women in Russian and International Art

Contents:

• Isabella Stewart Gardner: A Rebellious Soul with a Jewel
• Gertrude Stein: The Cultural Center at 27 Rue de Fleurus
• Peggy Guggenheim: Art Permeated with Every Moment
• Elizaveta Mamontova: The Warmth and Generosity of a Merchant's Soul
• Maria Tenisheva: Devotion to Art Without Borders
• The Contribution of Women Patrons to the Development of Culture and Art

In 1906, Pablo Picasso creates a portrait of a woman that radically changes his destiny. The reason for this is not romantic feelings, but financial support: the painting depicts Gertrude Stein, acquiring his works, despite the fact that all of Paris considers them to be nothing more than the ravings of a madman.

Two decades later, these painterly brushstrokes will be valued in the millions.

We will tell you about patrons of the arts from Boston, Paris and Moscow who inspired artists, shaped the future of fine art and kept outstanding works of art in their collections.

Isabella Stewart Gardner: A Rebellious Soul with a Precious Stone

Isabella walked the streets of Boston in the company of a lion, adorned with diamonds that resembled walnuts in her hair. She was a devoted Boston Red Sox fan and was friendly with boxer John Lawrence Sullivan.

Her life began in 1840 in a wealthy New York family. She later married John Gardner, a member of Boston aristocracy. In 1865, tragedy struck: she lost her only son. This was followed by a miscarriage and the death of several loved ones, leading to deep depression. Doctors recommended traveling to Europe as a form of therapy. It was there that she discovered her love of art.

A portrait painted by John Sargent in 1888, which was created under her patronage, has been removed from an exhibition at St. Botolph's Club in Boston. This decision was made by her husband, who took into account rumors that the painting's neckline was too provocative.

During her life, she acquired 60 works of art created by Sargent.

In 1891, after the death of her father, she inherited $1.75 million, which in today's money is about $62.5 million. This event marked the beginning of her active passion for collecting. She brought in Bernard Berenson, then America's leading expert on Italian Renaissance art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as a consultant.

Gardner's motto for art was "C'est mon plaisir," which translates as "It is my pleasure."

The collection included works by such masters as Titian, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Raphael, Dürer, and Matisse.

In 1898, after the loss of her husband, Isabella began creating the Fenway Court Museum in Boston, which opened its doors to the public in 1903. She left it as a legacy to society, while setting the condition that the exhibition would not be changed.

It is still not possible.

Self-portrait created by Rembrandt and Previously purchased by Gardner, it was sold at Christie's in 2009 for $33 million. At the center of the collection was a highly valuable work, Vermeer's The Concert, which was stolen in 1990 and valued at $200 million.

The theft remains unsolved.

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Here are five interesting Facts about the artwork "Girl with a Pearl Earring":

1. This painting was created by the Dutch master Johannes Vermeer in 1665 and is considered one of his most famous works. It is often called the "Dutch Mona Lisa" due to its popularity and the enigmatic expression on the model's face.

2. The painting depicts a young girl looking over her shoulder, her face illuminated by a soft light. She wears a bright blue and yellow robe, and the main decoration is a large pearl earring, which attracts the viewer's attention.

3. Vermeer used the technique of "chiaroscuro" to create the effect of three-dimensionality and depth. This feature gives the painting a realism and liveliness, which makes it especially appealing.

4. "Girl with a Pearl Earring" was in private collections for a long time and was not known to the general public. It wasn't until the 19th century that it arrived in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, where it remains to this day.

5. The painting has inspired numerous interpretations in various art forms, including a novel and film, attesting to its influence on culture and art in general.

Gertrude Stein: A Cultural Center at 27 Rue de Fleurus

Stein was born in 1874 to a wealthy Jewish family. She studied psychology under William James, but soon decided to leave medical school, as medicine did not interest her. In 1903, she moved to Paris.

Stein's apartment in Paris was not a museum in the traditional sense. Every Saturday, those wishing to glimpse the art world of tomorrow would gather within its walls: here Picasso and Matisse exchanged thoughts on Cubism, Hemingway regarded her as his literary godmother, and Fitzgerald valued her wisdom and willingly followed her advice.

Alice B. Toklas observed: “Gradually, more and more people began to come to the Rue de Fleurus to see the works of Matisse and Cézanne. Matisse attracted spectators, each of whom brought someone new with him, and the crowds came at all hours, which soon became quite tiresome. And so began Saturday evenings.”

Stein intuitively sensed the talent that existed among the Parisian circles.

“Among them were three outstanding personalities - Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso and Alfred Whitehead… “Every time I encountered one of them, a special resonating sound would sound inside me,” Toklas shared her memories in her biography.

A certain artist, whose name remains in the shadows, brings his unusual paintings to a gallery on the rue de Fleurus. The owner of the establishment, a strong American woman with a sharp, penetrating gaze, decides to buy them.

In the collection Stein housed works by such masters as Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne and Renoir. She acquired them for small sums, convinced of the value of something no one else noticed, while acquaintances looked at her with bewilderment, and critics mocked this strange art.

These days, her "mistakes" are exhibited in major museums around the world and reach astronomical prices at auctions: Picasso works from the Stein collection are sold for between 20 and 30 million dollars.

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Picasso touched on many themes in his work, but five main directions can be identified, which are particularly vividly reflected in ten of his paintings.

The first of the key themes is war and violence. In his famous work, Guernica, the artist expressed the horror and suffering caused by the Spanish Civil War. This work became a symbol of the fight against aggression and destruction.

The second important theme is love and relationships. In the painting "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," Picasso explores the complex aspects of female nature and the interactions between people, showing how love can be both a source of inspiration and suffering.

The third theme is identity and self-exploration. In "Portrait of Dori," the artist depicts his muse, introducing elements of personal perception and the relationship between the artist and the model into the painting, which allows for a deeper understanding of his inner world.

The fourth theme is time and its passage. In the work "Three Musicians," Picasso plays with the perception of time, demonstrating how the past, present, and future are intertwined in one moment, creating a unique atmosphere.

Finally, the fifth theme is social and cultural change. In The Blind Musician, he transforms traditional notions of music and art, revealing the contradictions and new approaches that have arisen in society.

Thus, Picasso's work encompasses diverse aspects of human existence, reflecting both personal experiences and broader social contexts.

Peggy Guggenheim: Art Permeated by Every Moment

“I acquire one painting every day” — this is how Peggy Guggenheim characterized her collecting style. This may seem like a hobby bordering on madness, but there was a clear methodology behind it.

“I don’t collect art. I am my own museum.”

Peggy is a paradoxical girl who is wealthy, but lives in a family that resembles a real nightmare. She was born in 1898 in New York. Her grandfather, a banker named James Seligman, generously shared his wealth, handing out birthday checks to his 11 children and 15 grandchildren. Family traditions are striking in their eccentricity: one relative gave away fur coats to his girlfriends, while another, on the contrary, had a habit of eating coal, blackening his teeth, and threatening suicide for money. And Peggy's beloved aunt often performed scales at bus stops, adorned with roses in her hair. Moreover, her father died tragically on the Titanic in 1912, leaving her not only an inheritance but also deep emotional trauma.

"My childhood was filled with profound unhappiness; "I don't have a single memory that could be called happy," she noted in her memoirs.

Peggy traveled to Europe, where she began actively acquiring avant-garde art, including works by Kandinsky, Picasso, Pollock, and Dalí. She developed a close friendship with Marcel Duchamp, who assisted her in choosing paintings. In 1941, Peggy married Max Ernst.

The gallery, housed in a magnificent Venice palazzo and founded by her, is now part of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. In terms of auction results, René Magritte's Empire of Light from her collection sold at Sotheby's in 2022 for an impressive $57.2 million. Early works by Andy Warhol are valued between $20 million and $30 million, and works by Picasso are also in a similar price range.

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Abstract expressionism is an artistic movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, which focuses on the expression of emotions and the inner state of the artist through abstract Abstract expressionism is characterized by bold shapes and vibrant colors. This movement differs from traditional art in that it does not strive to reproduce reality, but rather conveys personal experiences and sensations.

Artists working in this style used free and impulsive techniques, such as dripping, in which paint is applied to the canvas in a random pattern. This method allows for the creation of dynamic and emotionally charged works. An important aspect of abstract expressionism is that the viewer can interpret the work as they see fit, drawing on their own feelings and associations.

This movement became a milestone in art history, opening up new horizons for self-expression and challenging traditional notions of painting. Famous representatives of Abstract Expressionism include Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning, whose works continue to influence contemporary art.

Elizaveta Mamontova: The Warmth and Generosity of a Merchant's Soul

While Europe and America were immersed in the world of Impressionism, in Russia, two women were shaping their own unique artistic reality.

Elizaveta Sapozhnikova was born in 1847 into the family of a silk merchant. In 1865, she married Savva Mamontov, who was also a merchant and involved in the railroad business.

In 1870, the Mamontov family acquired the Abramtsevo estate. Between 1878 and 1893, this place became a true center of creative activity, gathering artists, musicians, writers and directors. Elizaveta Mamontova managed to make Abramtsevo an important hub of Russian art.

First of all, Mamontova surrounded herself and her family with the most progressive artists of her time. Her circle included such masters as Vasnetsov, Polenov, Nesterov, Ostroukhov, and Serov. Vasnetsov presented her with a sketch of "Our Lady" for St. Vladimir's Cathedral, and Nesterov strove to have her be the first to appreciate his work "The Vision of the Youth Bartholomew." Serov, meanwhile, called her a second mother; he arrived in Abramtsevo as a ten-year-old boy and created "Girl with Peaches," which depicted her daughter, Vera. This work adorned the wall of the family dining room of the estate for a long time, remaining there until 1914.

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Secondly, she, together with her close circle, was engaged in collecting examples of folk art and crafts in Abramtsevo, acquiring both ancient and modern items from peasants. As a result, one of the first museums of Russian folk art in the country was created in this place.

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Maria Tenisheva: devotion to art without

Princess Maria Tenisheva actively supported Russian artists and founded a cultural center on her Talashkino estate, located near Smolensk, comparable in importance to Mamontov's famous Abramtsevo.

Maria was born in 1858 in St. Petersburg. Many myths circulated about her true origins, which she neither denied nor confirmed. In 1881, she left her first husband's home and went to Paris with her daughter to study vocals. In this city, she also began taking painting lessons and became interested in enamel. Upon returning to Russia, she managed to obtain a divorce, which at that time required incredible efforts.

In 1892, she married a wealthy industrialist, Prince Tenishev, and became actively involved in charity work. Her efforts spanned a wide range of initiatives—from organizing free schools for workers at her husband's factory in Bryansk to establishing a "drawing school" in the capital. She was also involved in arts patronage.

I went to his office to ask for money. However, after being refused—politely, with a kiss on his hand—I seemed transformed, from a petitioner to an authoritative legislator. I insisted, "I insist that this is exactly what I want. I request that it be done by tomorrow..." To which he rose, kissed me, and, smiling coquettishly, replied, "Princess, your wish is my wish too." And when, having assumed the guise of a capricious lioness, I left him, outraged by this unworthy game, I was consoled by the thought that my struggle was not for myself, but for a higher purpose.

In her autobiographical book, "Impressions of My Life," Maria Tenisheva shares her life experiences and perspectives. She describes important moments that had a significant impact on her development, as well as on those around her. In the text, the author touches on themes of art, family, and social life, emphasizing how these aspects shaped her personality and worldview. Tenisheva shares not only her memories but also reflections on the times in which she lived, her place in society, and how her experience can be useful to others. The book is not only a chronicle of her life but also a profound analysis of how individual destinies intersect with historical events.

She met Repin, who created ten portraits of her, but these works did not make a positive impression on her, even before she met her husband. She was similarly acquainted with Benois. Her circle also included such artists as Serov, Korovin, Vrubel, Vasnetsov, Bakst and Roerich.

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Nicholas Roerich described her as the "true Marfa the Mayoress." She was a sponsor of the World of Art magazine and founded a museum of Russian antiquity in the vicinity of Smolensk.

There is no reliable information about how many paintings from Tenisheva's collection were sold at international auctions, despite the fact that she began to take her assets out of Russia immediately after the 1905 revolution. Nevertheless, many works of art have been preserved in museums, which is our good fortune.

The Contribution of Women Patrons to the Development of Culture and Art

Women, driven by a personal passion for art, became the founders of the art market in its current guise. Their salons played the role of the first informal platforms in which three key elements operated: intuition, financial resources, and social connections.

There was another powerful force, which could be called emotional intelligence. Stein provided Picasso with a livelihood during those difficult times when he was experiencing hardship, living in an attic. Guggenheim, in turn, helped artists, saving them and their works from the Nazi regime, bringing them to America. Gardner managed to turn her personal passion into something accessible to a wide public. Mamontova and Tenisheva were the first to recognize talent and contributed to the development of a Russian artistic school that is valued and recognized worldwide.

Christie's and Sotheby's auctions feature numerous lots that are the result of investments made by these women many years ago. They foresaw the future of art before professional critics realized it, although their contemporaries often considered their decisions rash.

In a society where appearances are highly valued, they realized that genuine art is priceless.

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  The diptych was inspired by the famous photograph of actress Marilyn Monroe, which Warhol used as the basis for his artistic experiment. The master's works are distinguished by multiple repetitions of the same image, which emphasizes the idea of ​​mass production in art. In this case, Warhol created two versions of the Monroe portrait, differing in color palette but maintaining a recognizable overall image.

  This approach to creating art reflects not only Warhol's love of pop culture, but also his critical attitude toward iconic figures who become objects of worship. "Marilyn Diptych" became an iconic work that not only strengthened Warhol's reputation as one of the leading artists of his time, but also influenced the further development of visual art.

  Thus, "Marilyn Diptych" is not just an image of a popular actress, but also a profound reflection on the theme of identity, popular culture, and the perception of celebrities in society.

• Three Capitals and Karl Bryullov: A Look at the Exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery

  An interesting exhibition dedicated not only to the famous artist Karl Bryullov, but also to three different capitals has opened at the Tretyakov Gallery. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore the master's works, which reflect the cultural and historical characteristics of these cities. Each influences Bryullov's work in its own way, allowing viewers to gain a deeper understanding of his artistic world. The exhibition becomes not just a display of canvases, but also a journey through time and space, where important aspects of life and everyday life are revealed through the prism of art.