He went to school the second stage in Marseille. There he was to perfect the French language. Then he studied mining engineering at Imperial College in London and they wrote a thesis of the new technology of the oil industry. Gulbenkian graduated in 1887 at age 19 with a degree of engineer first class. Professor of the Royal College invited the talented young Armenian students go to France and to complete the course in physics there, but his father rejected the idea, deeming it "academic nonsense. Instead, he sent Galust in Baku. There, young man "sick" oil industry, which faces the first time. Once it has sent oil fountain that he found even enjoyable - oil was "a great and thick." However, after leaving Baku, he never visited the "country of oil."
In 1889, the Gulbenkian published in a leading French magazine series of articles on Russian oil, are highly appreciated. In 1891, he combined them into an ambitious book. At age 21, Gulbenkian was considered world-class experts in matters of oil.
Around this time, two officials of the Turkish sultan asked him to explore the oil resources of Mesopotamia. He did not go there - as usual - but prepared a competent report, based on materials collected and provided by others. In his view, the region has vast oil potential. His words convinced the official Turkish people. It took "engagement" Galust Gulbenkian with oil of Mesopotamia, and "marriage" this was life long. Mesopotamian oil demand from the Gulbenkian extraordinary sacrifices for more than sixty years.
He was incredulous. " "I never met anyone as suspicious - said Sir Kenneth Clark, art critic and director of the National Gallery in London, who helped in his later Gyulbenkyanu matters related to collecting. - I never saw anyone reached such extremes. He always had a staff of spies. " Gulbenkian made two or three experts to evaluate a work of art before you buy it. It seems that over the years Gulbenkian surpassed in distrust of his grandfather who lived to 106 years to the end of life contains two groups of doctors to be able to check one by another.
Perhaps this suspicion was a necessary survival mechanism for the Armenians, who in the last years of the Ottoman Empire, constantly surrounded by both great opportunities and harassment. In 1896, during one sanctioned by the authorities of the Armenian massacre Gulbenkian fled by boat to Egypt. There he became the indispensable man at once for two powerful Armenians - oil millionaire from Baku and Nubar Pasha, helps manage Egypt. These connections have opened doors for him both oil and financial businesses and allowed to become a sales representative of the Baku oil in London. In London, Gulbenkian met with his brothers Samuel and Henry Deterding.
One of the first deal offered to them were Persian concessions, inherited in the end D'Arcy. In 1907, he persuaded Samuel to open office in Istanbul and headed it. Anti-Armenian sentiment at that time in decline. With many commercial interests, Gulbenkian was a consultant at the same time the Turkish government and its embassies in Paris and London, as well as a shareholder of the Turkish National Bank. With this support, he managed to reconcile the competing interests of Britain and Germany, as well as the Royal Datch /Shell, a structure called the "Turkish oil company. This task required the greatest delicacy, and in no case "was not among the nice."
Since 1912, when the Turkish oil company was born, the British Government has made every effort to get it together with the Anglo-Persian syndicate D'Arcy. In the end, the Government of Great Britain and Germany agreed on a strategy of association and forced its implementation. In accordance with the Agreement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "on 19 March 1914 in the joint interests of the British team dominated. Anglo-Persian group had a 50 percent stake in the new consortium, while Deutsche Bank and Shell had a 25 per cent. But there was still Gulbenkian. Under the agreement, Anglo-Persian group and Shell gave him a 2.5 per cent of total assets as the "interest of the beneficiary." This meant that he had no voting rights, but could use all the financial benefits of this separation of assets. So was born the nickname "Mr. Five per cent.
From 1942 he lived in Portugal. Brought over 3000 exhibits organized im.Galusta Gulbenkian Foundation. He died in 1955 and so refine arrived in Portugal in the age of 73 from England. Why Portugal? But I must say the grateful descendants (Portuguese) rewarded him. Around (in almost all cities of Portugal) are named streets in honor of his name even in places where I live. The Foundation is known for his talent and helped in every way, even more ... "Galust Gulbenkian was a man who all his life trying to make each type of activity are a work of art." Galust Sarkis Gulbenkian, who was born in a family of Armenian merchant in a small Turkish town of Scutari near Constantinople (since 24 March 1930 officially became Istanbul), continued its "university" in France and England. After graduating (with honors!) Engineer at Imperial College (Kings College), University of London, Galust Gulbenkian in 1922 published a book on the history of the development and exploitation of oil resources in the Middle East. The publication was seen by the Turkish government, to offer cooperation young researcher in the development of oil deposits of the Ottoman Empire. As subsequent events showed, the connection is Middle Eastern oil fields, located on the territory of modern Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with many talents Galust Gulbenkian helped not only the Turkish government to replenish its coffers, but also made the Gulbenkian one of the richest men of his time. It will be interesting to note that the Gulbenkian did not feel any broker or trader. An artist at heart, he remained to them in their business life. As he himself once had defined themselves in negotiations with a U.S. partner, calling it "oil trader": "I do not oil trader, young man! I consider myself an architect of the business.

Unlike many other major collectors of the twentieth century, started to collect works of art, after they "collected" first million dollars, Galust Gulbenkian was a collector since childhood. He made his first major purchase in the bazaar of Constantinople at the age of fourteen and spent on it is 50 piastres - a fortune for the student, his father rewarded for their success in school. My father did not approve of such investments. Himself Galust his choice was satisfied. And bought old coins began one of the most brilliant collections, in which the most remarkable are the numismatic and sections of the medal. "Collection Gulbenkian today: is the undisputed world's most important collection of Greek coins", - says a renowned expert. Over time the collection has replenished oriental rugs XVII-XIX centuries, Iranian and European illuminated manuscripts XII-XVI centuries, the pottery of the East, the sculpture of Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, painting, sculpture and decorative arts of Western Europe from the XI to the early XX century. And in each of these categories collector Gulbenkian acquired, as he liked to say, works only first-class. Reflecting this approach, a collector for collecting was the name of the exhibition of masterpieces from the Museum of Gulbenkian Foundation in New York's Metropolitan Museum in 1999-2000, «Only the Best» («Only the best"). Despite the fact that Galust Gulbenkian in 1902, took British citizenship in 1927 he lived in his palace in Paris, on the Prospectus Yen (avenue Iena, 51). Here was posted the most significant part of his growing collection, previously kept in the galleries of various antique dealers in London and Paris. It was at this time in the West are beginning to spread rumors that the Soviet government intends to sell works of art from Russian museums, including the Hermitage. It was the finest hour collector Galust Gulbenkian, is already exerting Services Bolshevik government, contributing, inter alia, selling on the western market of Baku oil. For it was he was the first who has access to the Hermitage collection, beating, and A. Hammer, and professional dealers, whose links with Russia were established before the revolution, and other collectors. Last but not least, has played his high professional ethics (the other is called the secrecy in business dealings). Enough to read his memorandum addressed to GL Piatakov, with which it is bound more closely, we can say, trust, relationships, than with other representatives of Soviet power. It provides, in part:.

"I have always adhered to the thesis that the objects that are in your museums for years, should not be sold, as they not only represent a national treasure, but is also an extensive educational foundation and at the same time of great national pride, and if to information about their sale penetrated the public, then this would be injurious to the credit of your government. "

However, in spite of advice Galust Gulbenkian, nor the protests of the staff of the Hermitage, the Soviet government began to sell the Hermitage collection. And as noted above, the first buyer became Galust Gulbenkian, who was sold works of art valued at about 3,7 million rubles. Products which are currently decoration and pride of the Museum of Galust Gulbenkian in Lisbon, located in its permanent exhibit, which I was able to see for myself during a visit to this museum in March 2004.
Purchase History Galustov Gyulbenkyanom fairly well covered both in domestic and foreign publications. Therefore, only recall that it was sold from the Hermitage Galust Gyulbenkyanu in 1929-1930, respectively. Among the 28 works of art set Gyulbenkyanu the Hermitage collection were 24 items of French silver, and executed the largest French masters of the XVIII century on the orders of Russian Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine II; three pictures (two - Hubert Robert, they depict scenes of cleaning up the gardens of Versailles affected by the hurricane, the third picture - it is "Annunciation" Flemish artist D. Bouts), table-secretary of Louis XVI furniture maker of the famous Parisian Rizenera. The Soviet government received from this first sale of the Hermitage, including packaging and transportation costs from Leningrad to Berlin, 54 150 pounds sterling. As pointed out in his book Jose de Azeredo Perdigao, a contract of sale, it was stated that the silver and painting Boats come from the Hermitage collection. Subsequent sales of such item on the "origin" is no longer contained.
A few months later, in March 1930, the Hermitage collections declined by a further 16 works of art: 15 silverware, as well as 54-year old masterpiece by Peter Paul Rubens - a full-length portrait of his 17-year-old wife Helen Fourmen. Of the total 155 000 FS had 100 000 for silver and 55 000 - Rubens.

The subject of the third purchase, the perfect Galustov Gyulbenkyanom in mid-1930, by five paintings (two of Rembrandt, Watteau, and Terborch Lancret) and one sculpture, a masterpiece of French neoclassicism - carved in marble, "Diane" Jean-Antoine Houdon. All had been paid 140 000 FS, of which 120 000 - for paintings and 20,000 - for sculpture. However, in accordance with a prior agreement Gulbenkian yielded four pictures of famous Parisian antique dealer Nathan Vildenshtaynu per 100 250 FS, leaving himself only by Rembrandt (Pallas Athena, or Alexander the Great ") and a marble" Diana "Houdon, which cost him a £ 39 750 . with.

In October 1930 Galust Gulbenkian made its latest purchase - but what? - "Portrait of an old man" by Rembrandt, which Andrei Ivanovich Somov, "the largest art historian, who raised the art studies at the Hermitage on the level of Western science", which from 1885 to 1909 he was chief curator of painting galleries of the Hermitage, called one of the best paintings. For this picture link in the contract for the origin was unnecessary: it was reproduced in the catalog of the Hermitage, published in 1923. It cost Gyulbenkyanu 30 000 FS Thus, in April 1929, when it completed the purchase of the first batch of works from the collections of the Hermitage, and until October 1930 when it was completed last deal, that is one and a half years, 51 of the former Imperial Hermitage masterpiece ever left Russia and came back to where it was created - in Europe. More specifically, the Palace Museum Galust Gulbenkian on Avenue Yen in Paris. As noted above, four paintings were sold Gyulbenkyanom Vildenshtaynu. 47 remaining products have cost the Armenian collector and the head of Iraq Petroleum Company in the 278 900 FS and to this day are the adornment of the European section of the Museum Galust Gulbenkian.
 Shopping Gulbenkian opened the way to the Hermitage American collector E. Mellon, the former at that time, U.S. Treasury Secretary. In 1931 he acquired through his painting of the antiquaries 21 1 400 000 FS, which is almost five times more than was paid Galustov Gyulbenkyanom. And in the first and second case, both the collector, using the combination of circumstances, carried out a bargain, which had no parallel in the past. A pioneer study of the world market of antiques Gerald Reitlinger commenting on the purchase of E. Mellon, wrote in 1960: "If the Russian government sold a collection of today, there is no private buyer could not buy it." In 1970 the equivalent of the amount paid Galustov Gyulbenkyanom 40 years ago, would be equal to 1,394,500 FS, and E. Mellon - 7,000,000 FS
In 1965, "Titus" Rembrandt was sold at auction Christie's for 798,000 FS, in 1990 prices amounted to 13,950,000 dollars Accordingly, the equivalent of 278 900 FS (1930) in 1990 would amount to 25-26 million, which would suffice for the third part of "The Portrait of Doctor Gachet" Van Gogh sold in the same year for a record price for that time of 82,5 Ten million years later, in 2000, at auction Christie's in London, "Portrait of a Lady" Rembrandt was sold for 28,7 million dollars, which is only slightly greater than the amount paid Gyulbenkyanom for the whole of the Hermitage collection, which , we recall, were two wonderful Rembrandt.
By the beginning of the 30th annual meeting Galust Gulbenkian mainly formed, and the collector is increasingly thought about how to gather under one roof and make available to the general public to what he has devoted his entire life - Collection. In 1930 - 50 years. parts of it for a long time exhibited in the British Museum in London (works of art of the Ancient World and Middle East), the National Gallery in London and later at the National Gallery in Washington (the masterpieces of European painting). From the directors of the last two museums - K. Clark and J. Worker - Galust Gulbenkian since 1934 and over the next twenty years, he negotiated the transfer of their collections in these museums. The first ten years of negotiations were conducted with the London museum. The last decade - from Washington. But neither the first nor the second case, the parties in different circumstances to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution could not.
Died Galust Gulbenkian July 20, 1955 in Lisbon, where he resided since April 1942, choosing his residence hotel «Aviz». It is said that a few years before his death, Galust Gulbenkian expressed a desire to build a museum in Yerevan and build a road from Yerevan to Echmiadzin, as well as create a fund assistance to Armenia. But to negotiate with Moscow did not succeed. In a will left behind by the collector ordered the establishment of the Portuguese capital of the Fund, named after him.
"The way throughout their lives Galust Gulbenkian used his wealth and how he ordered them in his will, shows his understanding of the social function of wealth and the corresponding obligations", - write in Portugal in 1975 to an Armenian by birth, English citizen with a passport, a citizen of the world's way of life, a connoisseur of art in virtually all its manifestations and collector by calling the 20 th anniversary of his death.
One of the primary objectives of the Fund was to bring together all over the world - from Paris to Washington's numerous collections Galust Gulbenkian are stored in various museums, the antiquities market, in its own homes. It took five years. Five years it took to bring the collection in order. From 1965 till 1969 part of the collection was exhibited in the palace of Pombal in Oyeras, a suburb of Lisbon. In October 1969, the opening of the Museum of Galust Gulbenkian in Lisbon, where, under one roof ", as the dream collector, were finally collected more than 6,000 works of art, 1,000 of which are in the permanent exhibition, divided into two main sections: the first includes the eastern and classical art, the second - European art. The exhibition reflects the dichotomy of the personality of the collector, born at the crossroads of European and Oriental civilizations. Temporal distance, which covers the collection of the museum, is measured by five millennia - from the Egyptian antiquities to the jeweler and designer products abroad XIX-XX centuries Rene Lalique.
Galust Gulbenkian would have been pleased with the museum. In comparison, for example, with the fate of the collections of American collectors Frick and Barnes at the Museum Galust Gulbenkian has clear advantages. In contrast to the Frick Museum, built as a mansion, which houses a collection, a collection of Gulbenkian housed in a building designed for and erected by Portuguese architect Robert Atugia, P. Sid and A. Pessoa-the-art museum of science and technology, where everything is done to to best represent the collection as a whole and its individual component parts. In contrast to the collection of A. Barnes, a contemporary Gulbenkian (legacy of Dr. Barnes in recent years is in the center of legal, financial and administrative battles, the outcome and whose impact on the integrity of the collection is currently difficult to predict), Gulbenkian Museum is managed by the Board of Trustees, in full compliance the last will of the collector, expressed in his will. His role in this thing was that headed by the Board of Trustees from the beginning and for many years was a personal lawyer Gulbenkian Jose de Azeredo Perdigao, the author repeatedly cited above books on Gyulbenkyane collectors. As a financial genius, "Architect Business Galust Gulbenkian Foundation had left 2.6 billion and an annual budget of 102 million dollars, creating the final masterpiece of his life - Fudacao Calouste Gulbenkian, part of which is a museum. It is located along with the Center for Contemporary Art, the administrative building of the Fund, concert hall and an outdoor theater on a small lake in a picturesque park. Ensemble, as a crown, crowned the capital of Portugal. By Lisbon pointing "eyes" a bronze sculpture of the founder of the museum, a background which is a stone statue of the Egyptian god of light and sun, Gore, presented in the form of a falcon in your favorite collector of ancient Greece, the god identified with Apollo, the patron of the arts. Loyal servant of the cult and was, perhaps, his life Galust Gulbenkian.
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13.10.2009 Prime Armenia praised the contribution fund "Galust Gulbenkian" in the preservation of Armenian

/PanARMENIAN.Net /Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a delegation from the Foundation "Galust Gulbenkian, headed by the director of the foundation, the head of the Armenian communities of Ireland and the UK, the grandson of philanthropist Martin Yesayan.
Stressing the importance of the charitable fund "Galust Gulbenkian" in the preservation of Armenian and Armenian studies, Tigran Sarkisian said: "Between created with the collaboration of public and private sector National Competitiveness Council and the Foundation" Galust Gulbenkian "There should be opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the field educational programs.
"This visit will give new impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation and the activities of the Foundation" Galust Gulbenkian ", aimed at preserving the Armenian identity", - said he hoped Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.