Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov is known among lovers of art, above all, that in September last year acquired a collection of Russian art collected by Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya, and gave her the State . In March this year, it was reported that Usmanov becomes the sole sponsor of the outstanding English painter J. M. W. Turner (J. M. W. Turner), which opens November 17 in the Pushkin Museum to them. Alexander Pushkin. This exhibition, the exhibits which made the London Tate Britain, will be the most expensive project in the history of the museum.

«I wanted to make the best possible for the Pushkin Museum, and said that they want to make, - told the 55-year-old Usmanov. - When they asked me to give money to the exhibition, I could not agree». When asked whether he ever sponsor cultural projects in the UK billionaire replied: «One day, maybe [I'll give money. - Ed. ] Tate». Later Usmanov did admitted that the organization is involved in some projects in England, but refused to say that they are.

There are rumors that Alisher Usmanov would somehow amount to support the construction of a new wing of the gallery Tate Modern. The goal is that this wing, designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog (Jacques Herzog) and Pierre de Meron (Pierre de Meuron), will be built by 2012. At the project required 215 million pounds (340 million dollars). In September, representatives of Tate explained that the museum has managed to collect 70 million pounds. At the same time, the gallery director Nicholas Serota (Nicholas Serota) said that if by September 2009 will be collected only half the funds, a new wing for the Tate Modern will have to forget. He communicated with various potential sponsors, Britons and citizens of other countries who love London and can provide funds to support projects in the city. When asked whether the number of «donor» Russian, Serota replied evasively «may be».

Usmanov does not disclose how much it spent on the exhibition Turner. Most of the works will be presented in the Pushkin Museum, are from the collection of the artist, which he bequeathed the state. In Moscow, bring 40 oil paintings and 70 works on paper, including the famous masterpieces «snowstorm. Steamship leaves harbor »and« The Castle at dawn Norhem ».

The exhibition will run until February 15, 2009.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources: bloomberg.com , artinvestment.ru