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(St. Petersburg: A. Benke, 1900-03). In two volumes. First edition, parts 2 and 3 only (of three). Folio. Title-pages and text in Russian and in French. Illustrated with 52 chromolithographed plates (20 printed in gold), loose as issued. Contemporary green cloth-covered board portfolio, stamped in gilt, each rebacked in green cloth, library call numbers in manuscript at foot of each spine, extremities and boards rubbed; City Library Association of Springfield, Massachusetts library book-plate on inner front board of each portfolio; same library perforated stamps on half-title leaf of first volume, title-page of second volume, and final plate in each volume (not affecting images); each plate with same library ink stamp and pencil notations on verso; scattered chipping and creasing along letterpress and plate edges; scattered light soiling in plate margins; plate II in second volume reinforced at fold with sello tape. Fekula 5929

Scarce first edition of the second and third parts of Russian Prince Grigory Gagarin's work on Russian and Byzantine art and architecture. As the long-time Vice President of the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, Gagarin was a major influence on the development of the Russo-Byzantine, or Russian Revival style, of the late 19th-century. The plates within compare ancient and medieval Byzantine art with early Russian design, depicting Greek manuscripts, Byzantine-style churches in Italy, and numerous Russian ecclesiastical designs.

See lot 56 for part one.