Kossak Wojciech- Memoirs. With 92 illustrations in the text and 8 color illustrations on separate pages

Kossak Wojciech- Memoirs. With 92 illustrations in the text and 8 color illustrations on separate pages/ Warsaw 1913/ Gebethner and Wolff/ linen publisher's binding. On the front cover pastedown color reproduction of Kossak's painting , "Before the palace of invalids in Paris". The reproduction closed compositionally in a gilded border. Gilded titling on the front and spine, decorated boards, gilt top card trim./ pp.[14], 348/color reproductions on separate pages, black and white in the text/ very good condition. A beautiful piece!

"Memoirs" by Wojciech Kossak is a richly illustrated memoir of the author, which was published in a luxurious layout, arousing numerous positive reviews. Although the book does not contain many details about his painting work, it shows the immense amount of preparatory work the artist had to put into creating historical panoramas. It also contains colorful descriptions of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains, where Kossak participated in expeditions with Tytus Chałubiński. Particularly fascinating are the memoirs of Vienna and Berlin, full of descriptions of sumptuous parties, balls and scenes of court life, which the artist portrays with exceptional insight and humor. [based on K. Olszanski's preface to "Memoirs" (War. 1971, pp. 33-37)].

The original painting pasted on the binding and reproduced on p.7 appeared at auction on October 8, 1995 at the Agraart auction house bearing a dedication to Mrs. Anna Wolfowa (wife of one of the publishers). The scene depicted is set on the Esplanade in front of the Palais des Invalides in Paris. The young girl in colorful Polish dress is the hubby of the twins Wojciech and Tadeusz Kossak - Walkowa. Standing by the boys' pram is a guardsman flirting with the girl and two veterans of the Napoleonic wars.