European carved portrait in XVI—XIX centuries. From the fonds of the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine: Studies, Illustrated catalog. In two books. Book two.

This scientific edition represents a comprehensive study of XVI—XIX centuries European engraved portrait stored in Fine Arts Department at V.I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine Book Sciences Institute. The researched collection is distinguished by its geographical varieties of items’ origin, by extensive historical chronology which spanned 4 centuries long and has an abundance of depicted persons as well as the artists (engravers and draftsmen).

The illustrated scientific Catalogue is the first profound edition covering composition and content of the unique library collection where each item is the original work of European artists have been professionally detailed study of each separate artefact. This edition also comprises sheet portrait engravings and the engravings which were cut out from ancient books and pasted on sheets of paper inside 2 self-made albums, primarily belonging to the private family collection called «Zahinetsky Library». In 1921 above-mentioned albums were included into the registries as a part of All-National Library of Ukraine Books stock (now VNLU).

The edition «European Portrait» represents over 1000 original portraits by famous artists — masters of engraving: Sichem I, Christoffel van; Visscher, Claes Janszoon; Galle, Cornelis; Custos, Dominicus; Aubry, Peter II; Daret de Cazeneuve, Pierre; Meyssens, Cornelis; Merian, Matthaus der Altere; Merian, Matthaus Der Jungere; Leu, Tomas de; Dollet, Jean Francois Victor; Dupin, Jean Pierre; Klauber, Ignaz (Johann) Sebastian; Kolb, Johann Christoph; Morghen, Guglielmo; Payne, Albert Henry; Pfann, Christian Sigmund; Wright, Thomas; Tarasevych, Leontii; Zhemchuzhnykov Lev Mykhailovych.

The presented edition consists of the Preface, Introduction «European Engraved Portrait of XVI—XIX c.c.», Catalogue (in 2 Books), References, Summery, Scientific Auxiliary Indices: Index of Artists of engravings and Common Name Index. The Introduction deals with the phenomenon of origin and development of European portrait engravings and highlights the creativity of prominent artists in the genre of engraving, special attention is paid to artists whose works preserved in VNLU Fine arts collection. However, the main part of the Catalogue has accumulated information about portrayed persons. Research and analytical description of each separate engraving item is done de visu. Images on each engraving and all the details of text inscription were the objects of research and description of every artefact. Attribution for engraving portraits have been performed on the basis for iconography study of portrayed persons. It was the priority over the definition for structure of the edition, i.e. placement of engravings description in alphabetical order in accordance with the name of portrayed person in particular. Artists Index is a multilingual one: the Ukrainian language version for artists’ names is represented in the language(s) of countries where the indicated persons came from (by parenthesis).

This scientific Catalogue is addressed to researchers of European history and culture, art critics, artists, museum, archive and library professionals, and to a wide circle of art aficionados.