Set of Two Books on a Polish Artist in India During WWII
a) Artysta Wszechstronny, Stefan Norblin 1892-1952: A Master of Many Arts, Poland: Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, 2011
pp. 164; large hardback
12.5 x 9 in (31.2 x 22.5 cm)
Text in English and Polish. A lovely catalogue published in Poland about the Polish Art Deco artist with a good part of the book focusing on his escape from Poland to India and his stay of 5 years [1941-46] in Bombay, Jodhpur where he painted frescoes and decorated the Umaid Bhawan Palace [now a hotel] and designed its rooms and furniture, Morvi where he did frescoes in the palace and designed decorative glass panels, and a small state in Bihar.
There is a biographical essay, one essay on Norblin's work in the field of advertising, graphics and posters before coming to India; another on his involvement in theatre before coming to India. These are followed by 3 essays [21 pages] on his Indian connection.
These are titled:
STEFAN NORBLIN'S PAINTING IN INDIA [which had European interpretations of Hindu mythological themes]. with 5 photos
STEFAN NORBLIN - DESIGNER OF ROYAL RESIDENCES with 6 photos
RESTORATION OF WORKS OF STEFAN NORBLIN IN UMAID BHAWAN PALACE with 6 photos
The essays are followed by the catalogue section which is divided into 3 sections -
Poland - pp. 72-117
India - pp. 120 - 145 [with 26 full-page colour plates, 1 of them double fold]
USA [where he went in 1946 and committed suicide in 1952] - pp. 148 - 161 [which also has 6 images on Indian themes]
Apart from this, the non-Indian sections too are profusely illustrated with numerous colour images and sepia and black and white photographs.
b) Maria Dlutek, Stefan Norblin, Poland: Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola, 2011
pp. 104; large hardback
12.2 x 9.8 in (30.5 x 24.5 cm)
Text in Polish. A catalogue published in Poland about the Polish Art Deco artist. Everything Norblin painted in India signified European interpretations of Hindu mythological themes.
There are 5 essays with half the book [3 chapters] devoted to Norblin's work in India.
1 chapter on his interior designs for the Umaid Bhawan palace with 24 paintings [all reproductions of Norblin's watercolours of various interior designs] and photos.
1 chapter on his frescoes in Indian palaces [Umaid Bhawan and Morvi] with 32 paintings and photos.
1 chapter on the restoration work carried out in Umaid Bhawan on Norblin's frescoes with 19 photos.
The non-Indian section of the book is also profusely illustrated with 1 full-page painting of Morvi Maharaja, 3 sepia photos and 2 colour photos on India also figuring there.
(Set of two)
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This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition of each book.