Monumental in scale and rich in exotic detail, Konstantin Makovsky’s stunning paintings epitomize the charm of Old Russia. His early career blossomed in St. Petersburg in the 1870s, where he became the darling of the tsar’s court. His popularity soon spread far beyond Russia’s borders. He lived and worked in Paris and then America, becoming the premier ambassador of traditional Russian culture in the United States.
This beautifully illustrated book, the first full survey in English of Makovsky’s career, positions his work at the crossroads between late imperial St. Petersburg, Belle-Epoque Paris, and America during the Gilded Age. Three great canvases celebrating Russia’s traditional wedding customs unify this survey: A Boyar Wedding Feast (1883), which launched Makovsky on a long career as a celebrity painter of historical genre scenes, Choosing the Bride (1887), and The Russian Bride’s Attire (1889). All are explored through outstanding photography, including close-up details, published here for the first time.
Wendy Salmond is a professor of art history at Chapman University, Orange, California. Russell E. Martin is a professor of history at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Wilfried Zeisler is the chief curator at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens.
Hardcover
144 pages
Measurements: 8 x 10 inches
Published by Giles in 2015
