Heorhiy Narbut

Heorhiy Narbut (Ukrainian: Георгій Іванович Нарбут, 25 February [O.S. 9 March] 1886 in Narbutivka — 23 May 1920 in Kyiv) was the most important Ukrainian graphic designer of the twentieth century.[1]

Heorhiy Narbut
Born	March 9, 1886 Narbutivka, Hlukhiv county, Chernigov Governorate
Died	May 23, 1920 (aged 34) Kyiv, Ukraine
Education	School of Simon Hollósy
Known for	Graphic design

Picture by Russian artist Boris Kustodiev (1914)

Project for seal of Ukrainian People's Republic, 1918

He is known for designing the Coat of arms of Ukraine, banknotes, postage stamps, charters, and his many illustrations in books and magazines. He is also known as Georgy Narbut and George Narbut. He was a brother of a noted Russian Acmeist poet Vladimir Narbut.

Biography

Heorhiy Narbut was born in the village Narbutivka, Ukraine not far off from Hlukhiv. His family had origins of ancient Lithuanian nobility. His first painting education was self-taught.

Saint Petersburg

At about age 20, Narbut settled in Saint Petersburg from 1906 to 1917. There he studied with painters Ivan Bilibin and Mstislav Dobuzhinsky. In 1909, Narbut continued some of his studies in Munich, in the school of Simon Hollósy. After his return to Saint Petersburg he joined the organization Mir iskusstva. In 1910-1912 Narbut was an illustrator of the fairy tales Hans Christian Andersen, the fables of Ivan Krylov, and folk tales.

Kyiv

In March 1917, Narbut moved to Kyiv. In September 1917, he became professor and rector of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts. During this time he created his Ukrainian banknotes, postage stamps and charters for the newly created Ukrainian National Republic. Narbut also worked on the Ukrainian magazines: Nashe Mynule (Our past), Zori (Stars), and Sontse Truda (The Sun of Work) among others. He died of typhus in 1920.

The dancer Marina Berezowsky (1914-2011) was his daughter. She became a major figure in ballet in Australia.[2]

Works

• Armorial of Little Russia

This 1918 issue of shahs was designed by graphic artists Anton Sereda and Heorhiy Narbut.

• First definitive stamps of Ukraine (1992), after the drawing of Narbut
• 
  Series from May 16, Michel catalog, #80
• 
  Same Michel catalog, #81
• 
  Same Michel catalog, #79
• 
  Same Michel catalog, #82
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  Series from June 17 Michel catalog, #75
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  Same Michel catalog, #76
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  Same Michel catalog, #77
• 
  Same Michel catalog, #78

References

1. Historical Dictionary of Ukraine p.125. June 15, 2014.
2. Dally Messenger, "Great leader and teacher of dance", The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2016

External links

• 100 famous names of Ukraine - UKROP Encyclopedia (in Ukrainian), Accessed 23 June 2008
• Narbut`s works in Grynyov Art Foundation Collection
• Heorhiy Narbut: founder of the Ukrainian graphics
• Heorhiy Narbut. Album. Kyiv,1983
• Heorhiy Narbut in Kharkiv Art Museum collection. Kharkiv, 1973.