The Firebird and Other Russian Fairy Tales (1978), edited by Jacqueline Onassis and illustrated by Boris Zvorykin, represents a magnificent late-career revival of traditional Russian book arts in Western publishing. Published by Viking Press, this lavish folio volume brings together classic Slavic tales like “Vasilisa the Beautiful” and “The Snow Maiden” through Zvorykin’s breathtaking illustrations that channel both imperial-era craftsmanship and 20th-century graphic sophistication. The artist’s work glows with jewel-toned intensity—crimson firebirds against lapis lazuli skies, emerald forests dusted with snow-white birch bark patterns, and gilt-edged onion domes rising like fairy tale visions. Zvorykin’s compositions masterfully blend medieval Russian iconography with Art Deco stylization, evident in the elongated figures of tsareviches that recall both Rublev’s saints and Bakst’s ballet designs. Particularly stunning is his treatment of Baba Yaga’s hut, where chicken legs twist into intricate Slavic scrollwork, and the Firebird itself, its plumage a mosaic of Byzantine gold and Fabergé enamel hues.
About Boris Zvorykin (1872-1942):
This enigmatic Russian artist bridged two worlds, bringing the splendor of Tsarist-era book arts to 20th-century audiences. Trained at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture during the twilight of imperial Russia, Zvorykin developed his signature style studying medieval miniatures in the Kremlin Armory and lubok folk prints. After the Revolution, he emigrated to Paris where his 1925 illustrations for Contes de la Russie introduced Western readers to authentic Russian aesthetics beyond stereotypical matryoshka imagery. Unlike contemporaries who Westernized Slavic tales, Zvorykin insisted on historical accuracy—his boyar costumes copied from Kremlin archives, his architectural details traced from wooden churches of the north. This posthumous 1976 collection, curated by Onassis who discovered his work in Parisian antiquarian shops, represents his artistic testament. The illustrations showcase his unparalleled ability to transform folk motifs into modernist graphic power—where traditional khokhloma patterns become dynamic compositional elements and saints’ golden haloes morph into abstract sunbursts. Though much of his life remains mysterious (even his death date is uncertain), Zvorykin’s legacy lives on through these pages—a bridge between old Muscovy and contemporary fantasy art.
For readers captivated by this edition, these related works may inspire:
• Russian Fairy Tales (1945) illustrated by Ivan Bilibin – the definitive pre-Revolution interpretation
• The Magic Ring (1977) illustrated by Andrew Lang – showing British takes on Slavic tales
• The Snow Queen (1985) illustrated by P.J. Lynch – for another lavish late-20th century fairy tale book
Boris Zvorykin – The Firebird and other Russian Fairy Tales
