|
Gagarin Gr. Gr., Prince, Stackelberg E., Count. Le
Caucase pittoresque dessine d’apres nature par le Prince Gr. Gagarin
avec une introduction et un texte explicatif par le Comte Ernest
Stackelberg dedie a la Majeste Imperiale Nicolas I-er Empereur de
toutes les Russies. Paris, Plon freres, 1847, [2], 22 p.p. of the
text by E.Stakelberg's introductory, frontispice + carte + 80 planches
(colored, black-and-white lithographs, colored chromolithographs
printed in Lemercier’s Printing-house in Paris. Modern morocco of the
known Moscow bindery. All edges gilt. Frameworks on covers, in corners
—
metal figured inserts are located that bears practical character for
the book is heavy enough. The book is placed in wood case. Format:
Grand Folio, 56х40 cm. Size of the case: 75х54х10 cm.
Magnificent picturesque Views of Daghestan, Chechnya and Georgia. The
Rarity!
 Prince Grigoriy Grigorievich Gagarin (1810 — 1893), Chief Court Master
of His Imperial Majesty, amateur artist was born on April 29, 1810. To
the age of 13 years, he was brought up by his parents in Paris and
Rome and then studied at Tolomei College in Siena. Upon graduation
from this college in 1826, he served at the Russian embassies in
Paris, Rome, and Constantinople; for two years, he took the secretary
office at the embassy in Munich; soon after his return to Petersburg
in 1839, he moved to the Caucasus, where he personally took part in
the operations against the highlanders. He was well familiar with M.
Yu. Lermontov, together with him, he painted the Battle at Valerik. In
1841, he was appointed to the army service; in 1842, he took part in
the expedition of Prince Chernyshev to Daghestan. Being appointed in
1848 to Prince Vorontsov, for the period of time ending in 1855 he was
awarded, in addition to several orders, the ranks of captain and
colonel. In 1855, he was appointed to serve at Grand Princess Maria
Nikolaevna as the President of the Academy of Arts. In 1858, he was
awarded the rank of general-major; in 1859, he was appointed as the
Vice President of the said Academy; in 1864, he was re-appointed to
civil service with the rank of secret councillor. He took the office
of the Vice President of the Academy until 1872. His long travels
abroad in youth promoted to development of his love to art. He went in
for drawing and painting and was especially interested in the
Byzantine style of icon painting and ornaments. During his stay in the
Caucasus, he painted the Zion Cathedral in Tiflis and then, when he
was the Vice President of the Academy of Arts, he established thereat
the Museum of Old Christianity and did his best to turn the Russian
church painting to the Byzantine ideals and style; however, his
efforts failed to produce strong results. From the art works of Prince
Gagarin as an exclusively fine aesthetical artist, beyond his painting
in the Zion Cathedral, we also know his pictures for luxurious issues
of Costumes of the Caucasus (66 illustrations, Paris, Lemercier, 1840,
grand in folio), famous Tarantass by V. A. Sollogub (Saint Petersburg,
1845), Picturesque Caucasus Painted From Life (81 illustrations,
Paris, Lemercier, 1840, grand in folio), Collections of Byzantine,
Georgian and Old Russian Ornaments (three issues with 94 tablets in
full colour, Saint Petersburg, 1897, quarter folio), Drawings and
Sketches from Life (30 illustrations, Petersburg, 1897, elephant
folio). He died in 1893.
References:
N.V. Solovyov’s antique-shop. Catalogue №100 «Livres Rares»,
Saint-Petersburg, 1910, №319, 100 roubles! |
