NIEWIADOMSKI Eligiusz
POLISH PAINTING of the 19th and 20th centuries
Warsaw 1926, Wyd. M. Arcta in Warsaw 1926. 2,700 unnumbered copies were printed, p. 332, 7 k. nlb., numerous illustrations in the text and tables, format 17.5x25cm
A book written on death row. Considered by critics as the best compendium of knowledge about Polish painting at the turn of the century [Impressionism, Modernism, Young Poland].
HARDCOVER HALF LEATHER BINDING OF THE PERIOD, SPINE WITH RAISED SCROLLS, STAINED EMBOSSING AND GILT. MARBLED PAPERBOARD. TOP TRIM MARBLED. DECORATIVE ENDPAPERS.
BOTH PUBLISHER'S CARDBOARD COVERS PRESERVED.
The author of the binding is probably the famous Warsaw bookbinder Franciszek Joachim Radziszewski (1876-1941) [no signature].
His art, so to speak, went against the grain of modern artistic tendencies. His individual style was formed under the influence of English ideas of reaching back to the roots of crafts, to medieval art. It is a mixture of medieval aesthetics, classical and empire setting with elements of national art - Zakopane folklore. Characteristic of his works are numerous gold embossing, with his own hand-designed pistons with fanciful drawing of floral, animal or symbolic motifs. Filigree gilding done on colorful, usually red and green backgrounds gave the bindings a colorful effect, even though the bindings themselves were usually made of natural calfskin.
"Radziszewski was the greatest Polish master of bookbinding leatherwork." Source: W. Łysiak, "Empireum" vol. I. p. 102, Wyd. Nobilis, Warsaw 2004
Condition BDB-/ minor scuffs of binding, NICE piece
