A captivating life of Sergei Shchukin, the great collector who changed the face of Russian art. Sergei Shchukin was a very successful textile merchant in the mid-19th century, but he also had an exceptional sense of beauty. He was among the first to appreciate the qualities of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, acquiring works by Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Shchukin, a pioneer in the Russian art world, and his collection elicited shock, admiration, irony, and mockery among his contemporaries. This is the first biography in English of Sergei Shchukin, written by art historian Natalia Semenova and adapted by Shchukin's grandson, André Deloc. It includes personal diary entries, correspondence, interviews, and archival research, bringing to light the life of a man who has remained in the shadows until now, and showing how, despite his controversial reputation, he opened his collection to the public, inspiring a future generation of artists and changing the face of Russian art.
