Portrait of A. S. Stroganov by Johann Baptist Lampi

Portrait of A. S. Stroganov by Johann Baptist Lampi

Count Alexander Sergeevich Stroganov was a constant interlocutor of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. In 1761 he was sent to the Austrian court and here he received the count’s dignity. In 1766, deputies elected to the commission for drafting the New Code gathered in his house. As a member of the latter, he particularly insisted on the design of schools for peasants. Catherine II appointed him a senator, Pavel I – President of the Academy of Arts and Director of the Public Library, Alexander I – member of the Main Board of Schools and the State Council.

In the affairs of charity of Empress Maria Feodorovna, he took a great part. The patron of writers and artists, he was engaged in numismatics, made an extensive gallery of paintings, collections of prints, medals, stones and coins; last he had over 60,000 copies. Its library at that time was considered the best.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)