Antique 1923 Russian art history book by Viktor Alexandrovich Nikolsky (Виктор Никольский):
“История русского искусства” / “History of Russian Art”
An extensive illustrated study devoted to the history of Russian painting, architecture, sculpture and decorative art, covering Russian art from Ancient Rus through the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Published in Berlin in 1923 by the State Publishing House of the RSFSR, under agreement with the publishing house of Z. I. Grzhebin (З. И. Гржебин).
The book includes a preface by noted Russian art historian and critic P. P. Muratov (П. П. Муратов).
The volume contains 252 numbered pages, plus preliminary pages and numerous illustrations, including beautiful color and black-and-white plates printed on separate leaves.
The illustrations reproduce important examples of Russian icons, architecture, folk and decorative art, sculpture and painting, including works by major Russian artists.
Importantly, the original illustrated publisher's soft cover has been preserved inside the later binding.
The book was later rebound, apparently around the 1950s, in a sturdy cloth-covered hardcover binding. The spine is lettered:
“Никольский – История русского искусства”
The original book block was trimmed to fit the later binding.
Author: Viktor A. Nikolsky
Title: История русского искусства / History of Russian Art
Subjects: Painting, Architecture, Sculpture, Decorative Art
Preface: P. P. Muratov
Place of publication: Berlin, Germany
Year: 1923
Publisher: State Publishing House / Z. I. Grzhebin
Language: Russian
Pages: 252
Dimensions: approximately 180 × 245 mm (7.09 × 9.65 in)
Binding: Later hardcover binding, circa 1950s
Original publisher's soft cover: Preserved
The book is complete, with all pages present.
A beautiful and substantial 1923 Berlin edition on the history of Russian art, particularly attractive for its numerous period illustrations and preserved original publisher's cover.
Excellent for collectors of Russian art, art history, Berlin Russian publications, Grzhebin editions and antique illustrated books.
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