David Jackson, Sijbolt Noorda, Ellen Rutten, Marija Valjaeva, Patty Wageman

Russian Legends, Folk Tales and Fairy Tales

Design: Rudo Menge, Illustrated (colour), Paperback, sewn, 240 pages, Format: 23 x 30 cm
English edition, ISBN 978-90-5662-608-2, € 35.00
Dutch edition, ISBN 978-90-5662-607-5, € 29.50 / OUT OF PRINT

In association with the Groninger Museum, Groningen

Exhibition in the Groninger Museum from 15 December 2007 to 6 April 2008

Fairytales and legends were an exceptional stimulus for Russian painting of the 19th century. Paintings by Victor Vasnetsov and Nicholas Roerich in particular, but also illustrations by Ivan Bilibin, opened up a new world.

In the past and in literature, fairytales and legends have -represented the innermost world. They were expressed in -traditional crafts such as woodcarving, lacquer work and embroidery. When Russian painters turned their hands to this subject matter and depicted it on large canvases, they united the reality of Russia as a nation with the fantastical world of the story. It is partly thanks to this conjunction that these paintings leave such a lasting impression. Many of these highly imaginative conceptions are deeply rooted in the collective conscience of the Russian people.

In the wake of the highly successful 'Ilya Repin', 'The Russian Landscape' and 'Working for Diaghilev' presentations, this is the fourth exhibition that the Groninger Museum is devoting to Russian art.

This publication explores the impact of Russian fairytales and legends on painting in the 19th century. It also reveals how these stories (and their evocative power) were used for the propagation of various ideals in Russian society.

Including brief summaries of the fairytales depicted, this catalogue provides an overview of the most important Russian fairytales.

With more than 80 works by Nikolaj Roerich, Viktor Vasnetsov, Ivan Bilibin, Vasili Kandinsky, Elena Polenova and Michail Vroebel.

> Last copies available at NAi Booksellers