MIKIAIL ALEKSANDROVICH VRUBEL (1856- 1910) was a painter whose art has been described as symbolist and proto-expres-sionist. He excrted a tremendous influcnce oll Russian avantgarde painters.
After graduating from the Academy of Finc Art in St. Petersburg, Vrubel made many, trips to Italy and earned his living rcstoring medicval art treasures. This greatly influenced Vrubel's choice of subject-matter, although he was also heavily influenced by the litcraturc of his own cotmtry which was then in full flower.
The magnificient full-colour rcl)roductions in this books of the Russian master, whose work der- serves to be far better knoewn in the West, will be a revelation to all who are unthmiliar with his work and a dclight to the enthusiast.