A Tale of Ivan Bilibin

All-Russian Art Scientific and Restoration Center named after academician I.E. Grabar holds an exhibition "The Tale of Ivan Bilibin".

The exposition includes a large collection of illustrations and book graphics. But in addition to recognizable monuments of "Bilibin's" style - theatrical sketches, book illustrations, portraits and landscapes, for the first time Ivan Bilibin's personal collection of samples of Russian folk costume, collected during his ethnographic expeditions to the Russian North, is exhibited. Of the exhibits - more than forty from the collection of Ivangorod Museum for several years painstakingly restored by twenty specialists from the workshops of fabrics and graphics of the Grabar Restoration Center.

His areas of activity as an artist were surprisingly diverse. Bilibin developed his own unique style, being engaged in illustrating fairy tales and creating sketches of scenery and costumes for theatrical productions. He was also engaged in commercial illustration, creating custom-made posters, postcards, sketches of stamps. He was the author of the image of the double-headed eagle, which became the emblem of the Provisional Government and is now the emblem of the Central Bank of Russia. Having emigrated in 1920 from civil war-stricken Russia, Ivan Yakovlevich prepared sketches of frescoes and iconostases for Orthodox churches abroad.

His work had a strong influence on the theatrical-decorative and graphic art of the late 19th - early 20th century. First of all, he is known for his works, imbued with an interest in historical and mythological painting and national Russian culture. Bilibin's creativity to a large extent contributed to the understanding by his contemporaries of its uniqueness.

Prepared according to the materials of the website All-Russian Art Scientific and Restoration Center named after I.E. Grabar.