PJSC Severstal supported the opening of the exhibition of unique collections of ex-libris and book illustrations “Exlibris and the Art of the Book”, which took place on June 27 at the Moscow Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Sergei Andriyaka School of Watercolors.
library named after N.A. Nekrasov and early printed books from the Cultural and Pilgrimage Center named after Archpriest Avvakum, the library of the Moscow Metropolis and All Russia, the Russian Old Believer Orthodox Church, as well as the collection of private owners.
Of particular interest are exhibits from the collection of Alexei Yegorov. Among the truly rare works is the composition of the unknown Russian artist "St. John and the Angel". Specialists in medieval studies, not without reason, attribute the work to the end of the 17th century. The decoratively understood color in its basic relations, the preservation of the culture of Old Russian miniatures make the Old Believers' book unique not only for its time.
V.M. Vasnetsov's "Children", executed in 1869 as an illustration to the poems of N.A. Nekrasov about folk life. A meticulous touch is combined with attention to the details of the interior of the room, showing a play of light that outlines the poor clothes of the boys. The characteristic character of their appearance enhances the impression of narrative, entertaining artistic story. And here the difference between the literary and dramatic imaginative solution from the ancient principles of ancient Russian pictorial art is noticeable (V.M. Vasnetsov came from a family of the priestly estate, where the people knew about the past culture firsthand). G. Vereisky for the novel by A.A. Fadeeva "Defeat" (1986). The artist himself had the pleasure of visiting the fronts of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Therefore, the text of the writer's dramatic story about the difficult everyday life of the first partisans of the Red Army in battles with White Cossacks and units of the White Army found an adequate artistic reflection in a series of ink drawings.
The exhibition was also supplemented by samples of book products from the famous domestic culture of the Silver Age - monographs dedicated E.Borisov-Musatov, M.A. Vrubel and other representatives of the era.
Among the exhibits there are editions representing the appearance of headpieces, endings, initial letters, publishing marks and stamps. In the exposition, visitors will also see two vivid examples of agitation and propaganda genre - posters from the well-known collector D.A. Zakharova, about the popularization of children's books.
Deputy General Director of Severstal Alexey Egorov noted:
Severstal has been closely cooperating with the School of Watercolors and the Academy of Watercolors of Sergey Andriyaka for many years. I sincerely thank the management and all employees of the Academy and the School for the unique exhibition, which brought together a large number of truly rare exhibits on one site. The exhibition demonstrates to a wide range of visitors all the versatility of our country's artistic book heritage ”. The exhibition "Ex Libris and the Art of the Book" will run until July 28, 2019.
