SERGUEI SOLOMKO (1867-1928) Costume design of the Grand Vizier

signed ‘Solomko’ (lower left), inscribed ‘Grand Visir’ , waterstamp ‘Bristol’ watercolour, ink and pencil on paper 23 x 15 cm Sergey Solomko (1867–1928) was a Russian painter, watercolorist and illustrator born in Saint Petersburg into the family of a general. He studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture from 1883 to 1887, and then at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg from 1887 to 1888. Solomko became renowned for his masterful watercolours depicting historical, allegorical and fairy-tale scenes, particularly images of Russian boyar life and folklore. Solomko collaborated with leading magazines such as Mir Iskusstva, Golden Fleece, Pole, and Shut, and illustrated works by Pushkin, Lermontov, and Gogol. His art also appeared on popular postcards. Solomko also designed for the Imperial Porcelain Factory and created miniatures for the Fabergé firm. In 1914, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna acquired his watercolour Cuirassier. A member of several Russian art societies, he moved to Paris in 1910, where he continued illustrating for French publishers and created postcard series celebrating Russian heritage. He participated in exhibitions of Russian émigré artists and was active in the Russian artistic community in Paris