Constantine Azadovsky: Russian Museum v. Benoit

[Евгений]

Konstantin Azadovsky :"... a close friend's father was widely known in his time in Leningrad collector FF Notgaft, friend and correspondent of Alexander Benois, MVDobuzhinsky, BM Kustodieva and others. In the 1930's and Azadovsky Notgaft lived in an apartment on Herzen Street, watercolors, gouaches and oil paintings that fell into this apartment (they were given, usually the artists themselves ), each time were discussed, were amateur evaluation and only then found permanent refuge in the wall of one room - at a Azadovsky Notgafta ..."

Notgaft Fridrik (in Russian Fedor Fedorovich). Born in 1886, received a basic education at the Faculty of St. Petersburg University. Then went to Europe for further education. A lot of traveling, studying works of art and culture of Germany, Austria, Italy and France. He continued his studies at Vyurtenbergskom and University of Munich. The October Revolution had a positive and came back to Soviet Russia in 1918, was active in the Commission for Protection of Monuments. In December the same year he entered a researcher in the State. Hermitage. Acceptance to the museum staff contributed AN Benoit, who gave him a brilliant characterization of recommendation. Notgaft justify high confidence in the renowned art critic. Integrated into the development of new revenue pouring into the museum, he showed remarkable energy and efficiency. In those years he was regarded as assistant curator of French and English painting of the museum. But, judging from the documents, it was he who led the main labor-intensive job of cataloging the fund, drawing up scientific equipment. In the archival documents of the 20-ies constantly emphasizes that Notgaft - a great connoisseur of monuments and methodically works as a scientist.
In those years, bosses and colleagues Notgafta rightly regarded him as one of the best art formative period of Soviet Hermitage. He took an active part in the organization of temporary exhibitions, was the founder of a new permanent exhibition at the museum, taking into account methodological requirements of the time.
In addition to purely museum of B. Notgaft did a great organizational work in many publishing houses in Leningrad. Including, in the "House of Scientists," in "World of Art". F. Notgaft was an avid bibliophile and collector. He personally knew many artists of his time. By his contemporaries and his students at the Hermitage, he was a connoisseur of enamel paintings and drawings in Western Europe.
In 1936 in the State. Hermitage was organized by its publishing part (so named in the documents). Was headed by F. Notgaft. It was the biggest event in the life of the museum, because the Hermitage was able to promote their treasures, not only in lectures and excursions, but the printed word.
Died F. Notgaft June 4, 1942 in besieged Leningrad. In 1945, he posthumously was awarded the medal "For Defense of Leningrad
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...clnk & gl = ru
1.F. F. Notgaft. Hood. B. Kustodiev. 1921.
2. Kustodiyev Boris. Portrait of FF Notgafta (Collector).