Mikhail Botkin

Mikhail Petrovich Botkin (; 26 June 1839 – 22 January 1914) was a Russian painter, engraver, art collector, archaeologist and philanthropist. Vasily Botkin, the writer, and Sergey Botkin, the physician, were his brothers.

Life and career Botkin was born in Moscow, the son of Anna Ivanovna (née Postnikova) and Pyotr Kononovich Botkin, from a family of merchants who were engaged in the tea trade. His mother died when he was two and, when he was fourteen, his father died so his upbringing was completed by his older brother Vasily. In 1856, he entered the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under and Fyodor Bruni. Two years later, he decided to travel, spending several years in Germany, France and Italy. Shortly after, he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, Fourth Degree (later Second Degree). Six years later, he helped create the Russian pavilion at the Nordic Exhibition of 1888 and was named a Grand Commander in the Order of the Dannebrog.

In 1896, he became the Curator at the museum of the "Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts" and was consulted as an expert on restoring the frescoes at the Cathedral of St. Sophia, Novgorod, and the Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov. Two years later, he served on the committee that planned the renovation of Mikhailovsky Palace and, together with Nikolay Likhachyov, wrote the first catalogue for the ancient art collection at the Russian Museum.

His art collection In 1882, he bought a mansion on Vasilievsky Island, where he housed his collection in five small rooms in the attic. On Sundays, it was open to the public, free of charge.

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