The photo taken in the second half of the 19th century shows the family of the Krasnoyarsk merchant of the first guild Pyotr Ivanovich Kuznetsov. He was the most famous representative of the merchant dynasty, which played an important role in the development of economy and culture of Yenisey Governorate for a hundred years. The Kuznetsovs combined brilliant business qualities and a taste for art, which allowed them to become successful entrepreneurs, collectors and patrons of the arts.

Pyotr Kuznetsov inherited a large fortune from his father and safely continued the family business. In 1865, he founded the partnership “Kuznetsovs and Co”, which was engaged in gold mining on the Abakan River. Pyotr Ivanovich personally went on expeditions to explore gold deposits and shared with the workers all the hardships of field life: he slept in a tent or in the snow, ate simple food, walked a lot and engaged in physical labor.

In addition to entrepreneurial activity, Kuznetsov devoted himself to social issues. Pyotr Ivanovich was elected mayor of Krasnoyarsk three times, and he achieved success in this position. Under his leadership, the city’s central streets were equipped with spirit and turpentine lamps, a mental asylum was built, and telegraph connection with Irkutsk was established.

Pyotr Kuznetsov entered the history of Krasnoyarsk as a patron of the arts. He was one of the initiators and founders of the Vladimir Orphanage for Girls, and he purchased a plot of land with his own funds for the construction of the building of the women’s gymnasium. Pyotr Ivanovich donated money for the needs of the Orthodox Church and helped talented young people a lot. The most famous of his scholarship recipients was Vasily Ivanovich Surikov: the young artist was able to use the merchant’s money to go to St. Petersburg and study at the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Pyotr Kuznetsov was successful not only in commercial and public affairs, but also in family life. He married a girl from a simple bourgeois family — Alexandra Agafonova. The wife of the merchant was remarkable for her intelligence, wisdom and practicality. Five sons and four daughters were born in the Kuznetsov family. All children received a good education, they knew foreign languages, traveled abroad, loved art and were friends with the creative intelligentsia.

After Pyotr Ivanovich died, his eldest son Alexander continued the family business, while his brothers and sisters could realize themselves in other fields. The family were much engaged in social, scientific and charitable activities.