On February 6, 1971, Professor Matvey Gukovsky, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Honored Worker of Culture of the RSFSR, died in Leningrad.

M. A. Gukovsky was born on May 8, 1898 in St. Petersburg and after graduating from high school entered the Institute of Technology, and then, in 1921, the Faculty of Social Sciences of Petrograd University, from which he graduated in 1923. M. A. Gukovsky remained interested in natural and mathematical sciences for the rest of his life and contributed to the versatility of his historical research. Since 1934, Matvey Alexandrovich began working as an associate professor at the Leningrad Institute of History, Philosophy and Linguistics (LIFLI), and since 1937 - at the Leningrad University. In 1938, he defended his doctoral dissertation " Mechanics of Leonardo da Vinci "(published in 1947).

M. A. Gukovsky was one of the founders of the Soviet school of Renaissance History and the teacher of a whole generation of Soviet Italians. He created a series of works on the history of socio-economic development, technology, culture and art of the Renaissance. The most important of her constituent books are the works: "The Italian Renaissance "(vol. I, 1947; vol. II, 1961; vol. III written and awaiting publication); "Leonardo da Vinci" (1st ed. - 1958, 2nd ed. - 1967), " Madonna Litta "(1954), "Columbine" (1963), publication " Italian humanists of the XV century on the church and religion "(1963). Special attention M. A. Gukovsky devoted much attention to the history of the pre-proletariat, devoting one of his works (in 1939) to the characterization of the leaders of Chompi (in 1957 its Italian translation was published). In 1966, he published a study on the situation of the masses of Italy in the XV century. Matvey Alexandrovich did a lot to recreate the image of such historical figures as Michelangelo, Filarete, Cola Montano, Savonarola, Callimachus, Pico della Mirandola. M. A.'s scientific achievements Gukovsky was also widely recognized abroad: he was elected a full foreign member of the International Institute for the Study of the Leonardo da Vinci Heritage - "Raccolta Vinciana" - in Milan (Italy), a member of the Leonardo da Vinci Institute in Amboise (France), a member of the International Committee for the Award of the Pico della Mirandola Prize in Mirandola (Italy).

Matvey Alexandrovich devoted many years to scientific and organizational work: at Leningrad University from 1939 he was assistant Rector for postgraduate studies, from 1941 to 1946 - vice-rector for Scientific and educational work, and from 1960 to 1969-head of the Department of the Middle Ages, from 1957 to 1967 - simultaneously director of the scientific library M. A. Gukovsky was the vice-president of the society "USSR-Italy". In 1944, he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.

M. A. Gukovsky's vigorous and fruitful scientific and social activity will always serve as a model for the younger generation of historians.

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