Nikita Lobanov


Prince Nikita Dmitrievich Lobanov-Rostovsky, known as Nikita Lobanov, is a Russian and American geologist, banker, and notable art collector of Russian stage design of the period of 1880–1930.

Biography

Lobanov was born on 6 January 1935 in Sofia, Bulgaria, to Russian émigré parents, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Lobanov-Rostovsky and his wife, Irina Vasilievna Vyrubova, both members an old Russian nobility. He is a collector of costume and stage designs by Russian artists, including Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. He has organised numerous exhibitions, including one at the Metropolitan Museum. He has written several works, Trade Financing and Banking.
In 1987 he donated 80 works of art to the Museum of Personal Collections of the Pushkin Museum, including Alexandra Exter's famous series of Theatrical Decorations. His collection included 1100 works of art. In 2008 he sold it to the Russian Government.
Lobanov is a fellow of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Regent of the Institute of Modern Russian Culture, a member of the Board of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Foundation of Bulgaria, Deputy Chairman of the International Council of Russian Compatriots in Moscow, Chairman of the Russian-speaking Community in the UK.

Education & Personal

Lobanov-Rostovsky studied geology as an undergraduate at the University of Oxford; he was a member of Christ Church.
He also studied economic geology at Columbia University and accounting at New York University.
Lobanov-Rostovsky was married twice. His first wife, Nina Georges-Picot, was the daughter of Guillaume Georges-Picot, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations. They divorced in 2000.
His second wife, June Marsham-Townzend, is a British citizen and a descendant of Lord Sydney.

Philanthropy

Lobanov-Rostovsky has endowed the Lobanov-Rostovsky Professorship in Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford, his alma mater, along with the annual . Scientists who have contributed extensively to the study of the Universe through the lenses of geology have been speakers, including the prominent Bernard Wood, speaker of the 2022 Lecture.

Literature

  • John E. Bowlt. N. D. Lobanov-Rostovsky. Katalog-rezone Khudozhniki Russkogo Teatra / Catalogue-raisonné: Painters of Russian Theatre, 1880–1930. Collection of Nikita and Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky 1994. 528 pp.,
N.D.Lobanov-Rostovsky's books:
  • Notes of a Collector. Moscow, RAS, 2003
  • Era. Fate. Collection. Moscow, Russian Path, 2010
  • Rurikovich in Exile. Moscow, author's edition, 2015
  • Rurikovich in the 21st Century. Moscow, author's edition, 2017
  • Rurikovich at the Turn of the Centuries M., Minuvshee, 2020
  • The Life and Times of the Sinful Prince Nikita. Sofia, Lito Balkan, 2022
Co-authored with:
  • J. Bowlt : Artists of the Russian Theatre. Collection of Nina and Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky. Vol. 1. Moscow, Iskusstvo, 1990
  • J. Bowlt : Artists of the Russian Theatre. Collection of Nina and Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky. Catalogue-Répertoire. Vol. 2. M, Iskusstvo, 1994
  • Andrey Marudenko: Dialogues. Moscow, Aurora Nobilis, 2020
  • Lobanov-Rostovsky, N. Fedorova, E. Artistic directions in Russian painting and their reflections on the stage. Exhibition from the collection of Nikita Dmitrievich Lobanov-Rostovsky. Catalogue. Sofia, 2025.
Books about N. D. Lobanov-Rostovsky:
  • Alexander Gorbovsky. Nikita's Childhood, M., edition by N.D. Lobanov-Rostovsky, 2004
  • Edward Gurvich. Bold parallels. The life and fate of an emigrant, M., Man, 2012
  • Nikola Filipov. Are you a scout, Prince Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky. Trans. By Ekaterina Fedorova. Sofia, Because of St. Kliment Ohridsky, 2020
  • Sergey Galani. A successful escape. Author's edition, Sofia, 2022
  • Lydia Dovydenko. To give to Russia. My meetings with N. D. Lobanov-Rostovsky. The Golden Feather of Russia Library, Moscow, Publishing House of the Zhukovsky Academy, 2022
Books in English in collaboration with:
  • J. Bowlt. Masterpieces of Russian Stage Design. Woodbridge, Suff olk, “Antique Collectors’ Club”, 2012
  • J. Bowlt. Encyclopaedia of Russian Stage Design. Woodbridge, Suff olk, “Antique Collectors’ Club”, 2013
Books in Bulgarian about N. D. Lobanov-Rostovsky:
  • Nikola Filipov. Whose spy is Prince Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky? Sofia, publishing house St. Kliment Ohridski, 2019
  • Sergei Galani. Successful escape. Per. with Russian Nikola Kazan. Sofia, publishing house St. Cyril and Methodius, 2022
N. D. Lobanov-Rostovsky — sponsor and publisher of publications:
  • Princess V. D. Lobanova-Rostovskaya. About the Russian tragedy of the XX century: Before and after 1917. Mother's memories. 1903 — St. Petersburg, 1937 — Sofia. In two books. Volumes I–II. Moscow, The Past, 2018
  • Princess V. D. Lobanova-Rostovskaya. About the Russian tragedy of the XX century: Before and after 1917. Mother's memories. 1903 — St. Petersburg, 1937 — Sofia. In two books. Volumes I–II. 2nd edition, revised and expanded. Moscow, Last, 2020
Sponsor book:
  • Oleg Barabanov. Grimaldi on the Black Sea. The government of the Grimaldi family of Terratoria Krmatma in Apostille-Apostille VV. Simferopol, Sonata, 2016
  • Milena Boykova. Fifty women in Bulgarian painting. Sofia. Lito Balkan, 2020
  • Painting with wool and Silk Flanders and France, Ferdinando century. Painting with wool and silk Flanders and France, 16th – 18th centuries. From the National Gallery Collection. From the collection of the National Gallery. National Gallery. Sofia, Square 500, 2025