Patronage is ... Famous philanthropists. Contemporary Artists

Patronage ... The word is not quite the usual for us. Everyone has heard him at least once in his life, but not everyone can fully explain the essence of this term. And it's sad, because Russia has always been famous for the fact that charity and patronage were an integral part of its long traditions.

What is philanthropy?

If you ask anyone you meet, what is patronage, very few people can just like that, right away, give an intelligible answer. Yes, everyone has heard about wealthy people who provide financial assistance to museums, orphanages, hospitals, children's sports organizations, novice artists, musicians and poets. But is all the help provided a patronage? There are still charity and sponsorship. How to distinguish these concepts from each other? To understand these difficult issues and help this article.

Patronage is the material or other other gratuitous support of individuals provided to organizations, as well as representatives of culture and art.

History of the Term

Its origin is due to a real historical person. Guy Tsilniy Maecenas - that's whose name has become a household name. A noble Roman nobleman, ally of the emperor Octavian, was famous for helping talented poets and writers persecuted by the authorities. He saved from death the author of the immortal "Aeneid" Virgil and many other cultural figures whose lives were threatened for political reasons.

There were also other patrons of art in Rome, except for Guy Maecenas. Why did his name become a household name and become a modern term? The fact is that all other rich benefactors would refuse to intercede for a disgraced poet or artist because of fear of the emperor. But Guy Maecenas had a very strong influence on Octavian Augustus, and was not afraid to go against his will and desire. He saved Virgil. The poet supported the political opponents of the emperor and because of this fell into disgrace. And the only one who came to his rescue is Patron. Therefore, the name of the other benefactors was lost in the centuries, and he forever remained in the memory of those who have been selflessly helped throughout his life.

History of the emergence of sponsorship

It is impossible to name the exact date for the appearance of philanthropy. Unquestionable is only the fact that the need to provide assistance to representatives of art from the side endowed with power and wealth was always. The reasons for such assistance were different. Someone really loved art and sincerely tried to help poets, artists and musicians. For other rich people, this was either a tribute to fashion, or a desire to show themselves as a generous donor and patron in the eyes of the rest of society. The authorities, on the other hand, tried to protect the representatives of art in order to keep them subordinate.

Thus, there was patronage in the period after the emergence of the state. And in the era of antiquity, and in the Middle Ages, poets and artists were in a dependent position from representatives of power. It was practically domestic slavery. This situation continued until the collapse of the feudal system.

In the period of absolute monarchy patronage takes the form of pensions, awards, honorary titles, court positions.

Charity and patronage - is there a difference?

There is some confusion with the terminology and concepts of philanthropy, charity and sponsorship. All of them assume assistance, but the difference between them is still quite significant, and it will be a mistake to equate. It is worthwhile to consider in more detail the question of terminology. Of all three concepts, sponsorship and patronage differ most from each other. The first term means providing assistance under certain conditions, or investing in a case. For example, the support of the artist can be provided on the condition that a portrait of the sponsor is created or his name is mentioned in the media. Simply put, sponsorship involves gaining some kind of benefit. Patronage is an unselfish and gratuitous aid to art and culture. Maecenas does not focus on obtaining additional benefits for himself.

The next topic is charity. It is very close to the notion of philanthropy, and the difference between them is barely noticeable. It is rendering assistance to the needy, and the main motive is compassion. The concept of charity is very broad, and patronage acts as its specific kind.

Why do people do patronage?

Russian benefactors and patrons of art have always differed from Westerners in their approach to the issue of helping artists. If we talk about Russia, here patronage is material support, which turns out to be a feeling of compassion, a desire to help without extracting any benefit for oneself. In the West, however, there was a moment of benefiting from charity in the form of tax cuts or exemption from them. Therefore, it is impossible to talk about complete unselfishness.

Why, since the XVIII century, Russian philanthropists are increasingly beginning to patronize art and science, build libraries, museums and theaters?

The main driving force here were the following reasons - high morality, morality and religiousness of patrons. Public opinion actively supported the ideas of compassion and mercy. Right traditions and religious upbringing led to such a bright phenomenon in the history of Russia, as the flowering of philanthropy in the late XIX - early XX centuries.

Patronage in Russia. The history of the emergence and attitude of the state to this kind of activity

Charity and patronage in Russia have long and deep traditions. They are connected first of all with the time of the appearance of Christianity in Kievan Rus. At that time, charity existed as personal assistance to the needy. First of all, such activities were carried out by the church, opening hospice homes for the elderly, disabled and infirm, and hospitals. The beginning of charity was put by Prince Vladimir, officially obliged to engage the church and monasteries with public charity.

The following rulers of Russia, eradicating professional begging, at the same time continued to take care of the truly needy. Hospitals, almshouses, children's homes for illegitimate and mentally ill patients continued to be built.

Charity in Russia has been successfully developed thanks to women. Especially distinguished in the provision of assistance to the needy Empress Catherine I, Maria Feodorovna and Elizaveta Alekseevna.

The history of patronage in Russia begins with the end of the XVIII century, when it becomes one of the forms of charity.

The first Russian patrons of art

The first patron of art in the history of Russia was Count Alexander S. Stroganov. One of the country's largest landowners, the count was most famous as a generous benefactor and collector. Traveling a lot, Stroganov was carried away by drawing up a collection of paintings, stones and coins. The count devoted much time, resources and resources to the development of culture and art, and provided assistance and support to such famous poets as Gabriel Derzhavin and Ivan Krylov.

Until the end of his life Count Stroganov was the permanent president of the Imperial Academy of Arts. At the same time, he oversaw the Imperial Public Library and was its director. It was on his initiative that the construction of the Kazan Cathedral began with the involvement of Russian architects, not foreigners.

Such people as Stroganov, opened the way to subsequent patrons, unselfishly and sincerely helping the development of culture and art in Russia.

The famous dynasty of Demidovs, the founders of the metallurgical industry of Russia, is known not only for its huge contribution to the development of the country's industry, but also for its charity. Representatives of the dynasty took care of Moscow University and founded a scholarship for students from low-income families. They opened the first commercial school for merchant children. Constantly helped Demidov's Educational home. At the same time they were engaged in the collection of the art collection. It became the largest in the world from private collections.

Another famous patron and patron of the XVIII century - Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev. He was a true connoisseur of art, especially theatrical.

At one time he was scandalously famous for marrying his own serf, actress of the house theater Praskovie Zhemchugova. She died early and bequeathed her husband not to give up charity. Count Sheremetev fulfilled her request. He spent part of the capital to help artisans and bride-free bridegrooms. On his initiative, the construction of the Hospice House in Moscow began. He also invested in the construction of theaters and churches.

A special contribution of the merchant class to the development of philanthropy

Many now have a completely wrong opinion about the Russian merchants of the XIX-XX centuries. It was formed under the influence of Soviet films and literary works, in which this layer of society was exposed in the most unsightly manner. All merchants polls look uneducated, focused solely on profit in any way by people, while completely devoid of compassion and mercy to their neighbors. This is a fundamentally wrong idea. Of course, exceptions always exist and will be, but for the most part the merchants constituted the most educated and informative part of the population, not counting, of course, the nobility.

But among the representatives of noble families, benefactors and patrons of art could be counted on the fingers. Charity in Russia is entirely due to the merit of the merchant class.

We have already mentioned briefly above, for what reason people began to engage in patronage. For most merchants and manufacturers, charity has become almost a way of life, has become an integral feature of the character. Here played the role of the fact that many wealthy merchants and bankers were descendants of the Old Believers, who were characterized by a special attitude to money and wealth. And the attitude of Russian entrepreneurs to their activities was somewhat different than, for example, in the West. For them, wealth is not a fetish, commerce is not a source of profit, but rather an obligation imposed by God.

Raised in deep religious traditions, Russian entrepreneurs-sponsors believed that wealth is given by God, and therefore, it is necessary to bear responsibility for it. In fact, they believed that they were obligated to provide assistance. But this was not compulsion. Everything was done at the call of the soul.

Famous Russian patrons of the 19th century

This period is considered the flourishing of charity in Russia. The rapid economic growth that has begun has contributed to the striking scope and generosity of rich people.

Famous patrons of the XIX-XX centuries are all representatives of the merchant class. The most prominent representatives are Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov and his less famous brother Sergei Mikhailovich.

I must say that the Tretyakov merchants did not have considerable wealth. But this did not stop them carefully collecting paintings by famous masters, spending on them a serious amount. Sergei Mikhailovich was more interested in Western European painting. After his death, the collection bequeathed to his brother was included in the collection of paintings by Pavel Mikhailovich. Appearing in 1893, the art gallery bore the name of both remarkable Russian patrons. If we only talk about the collection of paintings by Pavel Mikhailovich, then Treasury spent nearly one million rubles on her in his lifetime. Incredible at the time the amount.

He began to collect his collection of Russian painting Tretyakov in his youth. Even then he had an exactly set goal - to open a national public gallery so that anyone could visit it free of charge and join the masterpieces of Russian fine art.

To the Tretyakov brothers we owe a magnificent monument to Russian patronage - the Tretyakov Gallery.

Maecenas Tretyakov was not the only patron of art in Russia. Savva Ivanovich Mamontov, a representative of the famous dynasty, is the founder and builder of Russia's largest railroads. He did not aspire to fame and was completely indifferent to the rewards. His only passion was love of art. Savva Ivanovich himself was deeply creative in nature, and the occupation of his business was very burdensome. According to contemporaries, he himself could become a magnificent opera singer (he was even offered to perform on the stage of the Italian opera house), and a sculptor.

His estate Abramtsevo he turned into a hospitable house for Russian artists. Vrubel, Repin, Vasnetsov, Serov, and also Shalyapin were constantly here. All of them Mamontov provided financial assistance and protection. But the patron gave the greatest support to the theatrical art.

Mamontov's charity work was seen by his relatives and business partners as a stupid blessed thing, but this did not stop him. Towards the end of his life, Savva Ivanovich was devastated and barely escaped from prison. He was completely justified, but could not engage in business. Until the end of his life, he was supported by all those whom he at the time helped unselfishly.

Savva Timofeevich Morozov is an amazingly modest patron of art who helped the Art Theater on condition that his name will not be mentioned in this regard in the newspapers. And the rest of the representatives of this dynasty provided invaluable assistance in the development of culture and art. Sergei Timofeevich Morozov was fond of Russian decorative and applied art, the collected collection was the center of the Handicraft Museum in Moscow. Ivan Abramovich was the patron of the then unknown to Marc Chagall.

Modernity

The revolution and subsequent events interrupted the remarkable traditions of Russian philanthropy. And after the collapse of the Soviet Union a long time passed before new patrons of modern Russia appeared. For them patronage is a professionally organized part of the activity. Unfortunately, the theme of charity, which from year to year is becoming more popular in Russia, is extremely sparingly covered in the media. Only a few cases become known to the general public, and most of the work of sponsors, patrons and charitable foundations passes by the population. If you now ask anyone you meet: "What modern patrons do you know?", Hardly anyone will answer this question. And meanwhile such people need to know.

Among Russian entrepreneurs who are actively involved in charity, first of all, the president of the holding company "Interros" Vladimir Potanin, who in 2013 announced that he will be in charge of all his fortune for charitable purposes. This was a truly stunning statement. He founded a fund bearing his name, which deals with large projects in the field of education and culture. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hermitage, he already donated 5 million rubles to him.

Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska, one of the most influential and richest entrepreneurs in Russia, is the founder of the Volnoe Delo charitable foundation, which is financed from the personal funds of a businessman. The Fund held more than 400 programs, the budget of which amounted to almost 7 billion rubles. Deripaska's charity organization is engaged in activities in the sphere of education, science and culture, and sports. The foundation also provides assistance to the Hermitage, many theaters, monasteries and educational centers throughout the country.

In the role of patrons in modern Russia can act not only big businessmen, but also officials and commercial structures. Charity is provided by OAO Gazprom, Lukoil, Alfa Bank and many other companies and banks.

I would especially like to mention Dmitry Borisovich Zimin, the founder of OJSC Vimpel-Communications. Since 2001, having achieved stable profitability of the company, he retired and devoted himself entirely to charity. They founded the "Enlightener" prize and the "Dynasty" foundation. According to Zimin himself, he transferred all of his capital to the charity business completely free of charge. The fund created by him is engaged in supporting the fundamental science of Russia.

Of course, modern patronage has not reached the level that was observed in the "golden" years of the XIX century. Now it is fragmentary, whereas philanthropists of the past centuries have provided systematic support to culture and science.

Is there a future in patronage in Russia?

April 13 marked a remarkable holiday - Day of the benefactor and philanthropist in Russia. The date is dated for the birthday of Guy Maecenas, the Roman patron of poets and artists, whose name became the common name "philanthropist". The initiator of the holiday was the Hermitage in the person of its director M. Piotrovsky. This day received a second name - Thanksgiving Day. It was first celebrated in 2005, and I hope that in the future it will not lose its relevance.

Now there is an ambiguous attitude towards patronage. One of the main reasons for this is the ambiguous attitude towards wealthy people in the existing conditions of an increasingly stronger stratification of society. No one disputes the fact that wealth often makes money that is not quite acceptable for the majority of the population. But among the richest people there are those who give millions for the development and maintenance of science and culture and other charitable purposes. And it would be wonderful if the state was concerned that the names of contemporary Russian philanthropists became known to a wide range of people.