Ivan Tereshchenko

Biography

Ivan was the eldest son of the famous landowner and sugar manufacturer Nikola Tereshchenko and Pelageya. In 1883-1891 worked at the Kiev City Council. He was one the founders of "Sugar and sugar refinery factories' Association of Tereshchenko Brothers". In 1897, Ivan Nikolovich decided to build a beautiful villa on the French Riviera, on the hills of Cannes. This beautiful villa projected by Ivan Nikolovich was named as "Mariposa" and it was a dream come true house, located on a luxurious Mediterranean park with an area of 16000 m2, on a hilltop California. This paradise corner was advised to Ivan Nikolovich by his friend Vereshchagin. By this time, Russian Navy rented a French bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer for many years, and Vereshchagin as a Navy staff artist had the opportunity to be there. Using an official stay of the fleet, many Russian Dukes and aristocrats have come and spent there their time. Subsequently, the rapid economic growth of Russia in the late 19th century, as well as friendly relations established between Russia and France, have allowed to many wealthy Russian industrialists to settle on the Côte d'Azur.

Education and military career

Together with his younger brother, Alexander, he studied at the Kreyman private school in Moscow, after which he entered the University of St. Vladimir, and graduated with a Gradus academicus in law. Then he briefly served as a cornet at the Grodno Hussars Life Guards. During the years of military service, he became best friends with the painter Vereshchagin - the official artist of the Russian army.

Art Collections

Ivan was a great connoisseur and collector of art. Ivan Tereshchenko devoted all his life to collecting paints and patronage. He was fond of Art Nouveau. Ivan became known throughout the Russian Empire as a collector of paintings. Tereshchenko was a serious rival to Pavel Tretyakov. The first paintings that were purchased by Ivan Nikolovich were the Vereshchagin works, which display the scenes of Russo-Turkish War (1877–78), and among them a large painting called "Winners (looters). 1878-1879": the victorious Turkish soldiers robbing the corpses of Russian mercenaries volunteers who fought on the side of Serbia, taking off their boots and uniforms, leaving dead and wounded at the mercy of predatory birds. This painting, exhibited in St. Petersburg, shocked Russian civilians, and caused the rise of national pride. Emperor Alexander II of Russia declared war on the Sultan of Constantinople. That battle paintings became the first masterpieces in the huge collection of Ivan Nikolovich.

Charity activities

Back in May 1876 an art teacher Mykola Murashko asked Ivan for money for his private drawing school, founded a year ago. Thereby, Ivan Tereshchenko became Murashko school's patron for nearly 25 years. At the same time, he was also an honorary trustee of the Kiev and Alexander craft schools.

Personal life

Ivan was married to Elizabeth Sarancheva, the daughter of the Colonel Saranchev. There's a story, that when he asked Elizabeth to marry him, her father has promised that they will get married only after the snow falls. The next morning Ivan poured the whole street leading to the house of the bride with sugar. Ivan's father didn't like this trick, and in April 1880, at the insistence of his father, Ivan resigned and went to Europe to collect works of art.

Death facts

Ivan Nikolovich is buried next to his daughter Olga, born in 1882 and died as a child. She was buried in the Tereshchenko family's estate, over the Olga's grave there is a beautiful angel crafted in a white marble.