On Horseback - Vintage Image Poster
This stunning, brilliantly-colored illustration of horse riders dressed in armour is reproduced from a series of Russian stories. About the artist: Boris Vasilievich Zvorykin (1872-1942) was a Russian painter, designer, and illustrator who, unlike his contemporary Ivan Bilibin, is almost unknown to the wide audience. It's next to impossible to find a book with Zvorykin's illustrations in Russian libraries because he was not in favor of authorities after the revolution and some of his finest works made abroad were published only decades after his death. Boris Zvorykin was born to a wealthy merchant and showed interest in drawing from early childhood. It's not known if he attended any kind of art school, but was very likely uncredited student in Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture and was clearly influenced by paintings of Mikhail Vasnetsov. Before the end of 19th century, Zvorykin started illustrating books for some of the most established publishing houses in Moscow and St. Petersburg. A few years later he was already creating prestigious albums with historical and religious themes. In this period he designed numerous Easter and Christmas cards. Several series of cards were designed after his watercolors. He participated in exhibitions in St. Petersburg and painted walls of several churches and cathedrals. His most fanciful client was Tsar Nicholas II. After October revolution he was still active in painting, illustrating and designing but decided to emigrate in 1921. He moved first to Crimea, then Constantinople, then Egypt and finally settled down in Paris where he worked for publishing house Plazza. In 1930 he translated four Russian fairy tales to French, illustrated all of them and designed complete book, which he also decorated in red leather, but couldn't find a publisher. He also designed porcelain plates for Heinrich Porzella’s company which later became part of today's Villeroy & Bosh. In 1942 he died in then-occupied Paris.
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