Savva Mamontov

Savva Ivanovich Mamontov (Russian Савва Иванович Мамонтов, scientific transliteration Savva Ivanovich Mamontov; * 3 Oktoberjul / October 15 1841greg in Yalutorovsk, .. † April 6, 1918 in Moscow) was a Russian industrialist and patron of the arts of the 19th century, the achieved mainly through the construction of railways awareness.

Life

Early years and studies

Savva Mamontov was born into a wealthy merchant family in the western Siberian city Yalutorovsk, the mid-19th century belonged to Tobolsk. In 1849 the family moved to Moscow, Mamontov, where Savva went to high school. From a young age he was interested in visual arts and wanted to study it as well. However, under pressure from his father to Savva Mamontov had primarily devoted to trade. After leaving school he studied at times Mining Engineering in Saint Petersburg and Law at the Moscow State University.

Since Sawwas father, Ivan Fyodorovich Mamontov, invested in railway construction since the mid -19th century, this should later be Sawwas appeal. Since there were very few railways in the Russian Empire in the 1850s and 1860s, consisted at that time of enormous pent-up demand in this area. In addition, existing railways did not already owned by the state. Usually the construction of a railway line was financed by private investors, usually through the establishment of a corporation. Also the merchant Ivan Mamontov joined as an investor on the construction of railways. In particular, he was one of the initiators and co-founder of the Moscow - Yaroslavl railroad company whose mission it was to connect Moscow with the first monastery town of Sergiev Posad and then with the Volga city of Yaroslavl. This was because realized in the years 1862-1870. Today this route is part of the Trans -Siberian Railway.

Because Savva Mamontov also during the study showed little interest in law, but instead was always more excited about art - as he participated, among others, an amateur theater company - his father finally so decided to send him to Baku, he there a the Mamontov belonging silk trading company led with. Savva thereupon broke off his studies and went to Baku. He showed some entrepreneurial talent and could lead the Moscow branch of that company at the end of 1863. However, the cultural interest remained still: So Savva went in 1864 for a number of years to Italy, where he began to study painting and singing. There he also met his future wife, Elizabeth Saposchnikowa know, also a merchant's daughter, whom he married in 1865.

Patronage and the railway

After returning to Russia Savva Mamontov lived with his wife, also was enthusiastic about art, in a bought of his father's house on the Garden Ring. At this time he also began to promote young artists active. He received them several times at his home, which made this into a cultural center. Gradually formed around Savva Mamontov and his wife, an artist circle belonged to the later famous painters such as Ilya Repin, Valentin Serov, Viktor Vasnetsov or. 1870 acquired the Mamontov finally the estate Abramtsevo, 60 kilometers northeast of Moscow at the time of his father co-financed by Sawwas railway line to Sergiev Posad located, and there incited an artist's workshop, which has an international reputation to this day. A special feature of the then Abramtsevo represents the fact that Savva Mamontov also liberal and socially critical -minded artists invited there, which has significantly contributed to the development of new trends in the art of that time in Russia.

After the death of Ivan Mamontov Savva Mamontov in 1869 is dedicated again reinforced the Unternehmentum, without leave from Kunstmäzenatentum. He was active in the co-founded by his father company of the Moscow - Yaroslavl railway and in 1872 took over the post of Director of the Company. In the year 1875, Mamontov involved in a public tender for the construction of a railway line that should connect the coal reserves of the so-called Donets Basin ( Ukraine belonging today). Finally, he received from the state's concession for the construction and founded the stock company of the Donetsk railway. The traffic on the more than 400 -kilometer stretch was recorded in late 1878; and 1882 more routes have been finished yet. The project proved to be a resounding success and brought Savva Mamontov at the height of his fame. Another major project initiated by Mamontov to the railway was in the 1890s to extend the existing route Moscow - Yaroslavl - Vologda further north into the North Sea port city of Arkhangelsk.

In addition to the construction of railways Savva Mamontov invested funds in industrial companies, principally those who served directly or indirectly to railway operation. He was a major player at the 1897 saw the foundation of the waggon in Mytischtschi in Moscow, which is under the name Metro Wagon mash until today and the most famous Russian manufacturer of subway trains and rail buses. Furthermore, several companies in the field of iron mining and metal processing were completely or partially Savva Mamontov.

Last years and bankruptcy

The economic decline Mamontov as an entrepreneur due to several bad investments, began in the early 1890s. At that time Mamontov wanted to build a new railway line from the capital Saint Petersburg to Vyatka. Since the 2000 -kilometer route was very expensive, Mamontov invited the then Finance Minister Sergei Witte for financial aid for the construction. Witte refused to do so, however, with reference to lack of funds from Mamontov and offered instead to buy up his company the Donetsk railway. In return, however, Mamontov should assume a state Petersburg shipyard.

What Mamontov initially regarded as an economically profitable business, turned out to be a wrong decision: The state wanted operation, convert the Mamontov in the production of steam locomotives, was dilapidated and required far more investment than initially assumed. Then Mamontov sold a large block of shares of the Moscow - Yaroslavl - Arkhangelsk Railway and earned a metallurgical operation in Siberian Irkutsk, which he hoped to ask again with government subsidies on the legs to raise the metal required for the Locomotive themselves can. But even here it was not possible ultimately to raise funds for the necessary investments. Mamontov into debt by pledging its remaining shareholding and finally came in 1899 in arrears. In bankruptcy proceedings, the state also wanted to have uncovered illegal activities in managing the Moscow - Yaroslavl - Arkhangelsk Railway, after which Mamontov was arrested. Although he was acquitted for lack of evidence and a few months later was released, he lost most of his possessions, which have now been seized for debt repayment. The Moscow - Yaroslavl - Arkhangelsk Railway Company and the infrastructure was transferred to state ownership.

Through this affair Mamontov lost not only his capital but also the formerly impeccable reputation as an entrepreneur, which made it no longer possible for him to pursue commerce. Mamontov's enthusiasm for art, however, remained until his death exist, and he promoted the artists of the Abramzewoer circle if possible more. The last years of his life Mamontov was in a modest house near the train station, in today's Savyolovsky Abramtsevo, further belonged to his wife, residing. There he was also buried, after he had died in 1918 after a long illness in his Moscow home.

In the same year, a few months after Mamontov's death, the estate Abramtsevo was nationalized by the new communist authorities and transformed into an existing up to now a museum, the first of Mamontov's youngest daughter Alexandra was conducted.