Johannes Mikkel

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Johannes Mikkel (born October 26, 1907 in the rural community Mäksa , Võnnu parish , Livonia ; † January 19, 2006 ) was an Estonian art collector and patron.

Life and collection

Johannes Mikkel studied philosophy , literature and art history at the University of Tartu from 1926 to 1940 . During his school days he already collected art objects, especially old books, prints and paintings. Falling art prices due to the emergency sales of Russian and Baltic German nobles after the First World War and the October Revolution in Russia favored the development of art collections in Estonia at the time. During the devastation of World War II in 1941, his first collection was destroyed by flames. In 1944 Mikkel moved from Tartu to Tallinn.

After the end of the war, Mikkel worked in Tallinn from 1946 to 1978 as the manager of various commercial and antique shops in the Estonian capital. At the same time he built up a new, important art collection. Travels and contacts took him to all parts of the Soviet Union , including the Caucasus and Central Asia . Mikkel's collection focused primarily on porcelain and faience from the 16th to 20th centuries from Europe, Russia and China, on engravings from Western Europe ( Lucas Cranach the Elder , Rembrandt van Rijn , Peter Paul Rubens , Jacques Callot ), paintings from the 16th to the 20th centuries 18th century ( Jean François de Troy , Melchior de Hondecoeter ) and Estonian painting ( Ants Laikmaa , Konrad Mägi , Eduard Viiralt ).

In 1994 Mikkel donated his valuable private collection of foreign art to the Estonian Art Museum ( Estonian Eesti Kunstimuuseum ). It includes over 600 works of art. In June 1997, the Mikkel Museum was opened in Tallinn's Kadriorg district , showing his collection.

literature

  • Ivar-Kristjan Hein, Kadi Polli (ed.): Johannes Mikkeli kunstikogu. Art collection of Johannes Mikkel. Tallinn 2008 ( ISBN 9789985983768 )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Eesti Elulood. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus 2000 (= Eesti Entsüklopeedia 14) ISBN 9985-70-064-3 , p. 297
personal data
SURNAME Mikkel, Johannes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Estonian art collector and patron
DATE OF BIRTH October 26, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH Mäksa , Livonia
DATE OF DEATH January 19, 2006