Savva Mamontov was a Russian entrepreneur, industrialist, and the founder of the Abramtsevo artistic circle. While studying at the Faculty of Law of Imperial Moscow University, he became involved in theatrical circles and developed an interest in politics. After the student riots, Savva’s father sent him to Baku, hoping to distract him from his passion for theatre — but it worked only temporarily. Later, he moved to Milan, where he met his future wife, Elizaveta Sapozhnikova. The couple later purchased the Abramtsevo estate, which became an important cultural hub for numerous artists, including Ilya Repin, Viktor Vasnetsov, Mikhail Vrubel, Valentin Serov, and others. The members of the circle engaged in various forms of artistic expression — theatre, painting, graphic arts, decorative and applied arts, and monumental art — and also staged their own theatrical performances. Mamontov published albums featuring works by artists of the circle and commissioned pieces from them, which often helped them overcome financial difficulties. Passionately devoted to theatre, Savva Mamontov founded his own company and invited artists from the Abramtsevo Circle to work as scenery and costume designers. The first season opened in 1885 with Alexander Dargomyzhsky’s opera “Rusalka”, which, however, failed to achieve the anticipated success. The following season saw the repertoire expanded with productions such as “The Snow Maiden”, “The Stone Guest”, and others. Savva Mamontov played a pivotal role in the artistic rise of Feodor Chaliapin, whom the patron invited to join his Private Opera. Chaliapin appeared in numerous productions of the theatre, including the operas “Faust”, “Boris Godunov”, and “Judith”. An extensive collection of materials related to Savva Mamontov’s theatrical activities is held at the A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum. The collection includes posters, scenery sketches and costume designs for various productions, photographs of actors and stage scenes, as well as original stage costumes.