Savva Ivanovich Mamontov, a renowned Russian entrepreneur and patron, was born in the Tobolsk province in 1841. From the 1870s, he actively participated in the construction of railways. Mamontov was one of the main inspirers of the creation of the Northern Railway, connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk. He also invested in the construction of routes leading from Yaroslavl to Kostroma and Kineshma, and became the main investor of the Donetsk coal railway.

In addition to business, Mamontov was passionate about art. At his estate in Abramtsevo, he organized an artistic circle that included masters such as Valentin Serov, Viktor Vasnetsov, and Konstantin Korovin. Over time, Abramtsevo became a magnet for many cultural figures. In 1887, Valentin Serov created the famous painting "Girl with Peaches" in Abramtsevo, painting a portrait of Vera Mamontova.

Savva Ivanovich also collected paintings and engaged in publishing activities. He was the initiator of many architectural transformations in Moscow, Petrograd, and other cities in central Russia.