Istoriia Russkago Iskusstva. [The History of Russian Art].

Fine set, decoratively bound, of this classic work on Russian art before the Revolution, showing in particular many buildings and artworks which were subsequently destroyed.

The decision to include such a vast amount of information on architecture in a book on history of art was, at that time, relatively innovative. Though Grabar authored and edited most of the work, it also contains contributions by several artists, including Benois, Diaghilev, Bilibin, Makovsky and Roerich.

Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar (1871-1960) was an artist, historian, art critic and curator. This work was compiled on his initiative and under his leadership between 1909-1913. Grabar achieved the tragically rare feat of retaining his position and influence within the art world through the period of Stalin's rule.

As usual, without the much smaller 100-pp. fourth volume.