DEVELOPMENT OF ART COLLECTING IN UKRAINE: HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL PRECONDITIONS DURING XVII–XVIII CENTURIES

Abstract

The scientific article is dedicated to the study of the origins and features of the art collecting at the territory of modern Ukraine. Socio-cultural, geo-political and historical preconditions of the XVII–XVIII centuries became subject for consideration while making conclusions as to why and when art collecting became widespread among the ruling elites and noble families of the region.The article examines the history of such collections, their main characteristics and components at the time when Ukraine was divided into Left-bank and Right-bank.The research identifies main types of artistic practices widespread at that time in Ukraine, which served as the source of collectibles for private and primary institutional collections. The article considers differences of art collecting phenomenon caused by geographical context (Right-bank, Left-bank Ukraine) and by changes in political and religious factors, all having impact on the behaviour and preferences of collectors. The research covers names of well-known art collectors and demonstrates examples of collections, which laid the foundation for the transformation of collecting from the individual accumulation and preservation of cultural values to the formation of museum-level collections of national and worldwide importance.Keywords: collecting, art collecting, collectors, the phenomenon of art collecting, the history of art collecting.