A pair of paintings as theater stage designs " Folk dance in the landscape" and " Gypsy dance in the landscape " was executed in 1851 by listed Ukrainian-Polish painter Erasm (Erasmus) Rudolf Fabianski ( 1826 Zytomir /Russian Empire - 1892 Cracow/Poland). Polish artist, illustrator, graphic artist, set designer, theatrical figure of Ukrainian origin. He graduated the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg . While studying in Petersburg, he illustrated the famous anatomical atlas of N. I. Pirogov . In 1845-1852 he studied medicine at Kiev University . Subsequently served as director of theaters in Zhytomyr and Kiev (1852–1860). Author of the scenery for the premiere of the play "Galka" Stanislav Moniuszko . Our pair of paintings was created in this period of his Kiew life, probably, as theater stage designs. In 1857, in the publication of the Gallery of Kiev Antiquities, several of his lithographs of the Tithe Church in Kiev were placed. In 1861, for his patriotic activities, he was imprisoned. After his release, he moved to Warsaw, where he collaborated with the “ Courier Warsaw ”, put illustrations in “ Kłosy ” and “ Tygodnik Ilustrowany ”. Member of the January uprising in Poland in 1863 . After its suppression, he lived in exile in Vienna , then - entered the French Foreign Legion , fought in its ranks during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). After 1871 he returned to Poland, lived in Lviv. In 1876, E. Fabiansky executed the first wall painting of the Lviv Cathedral of Sv. Yura In 1880 he settled in Krakow , where he was engaged in painting temples and theaters. He was widely known as a master of urban landscapes (albums of watercolor types of Kzeszowitz, Tenchina, Krakow).

Literature: "Encyklopedia Krakowa" wyd. PWN Warszawa-Kraków 2000; on-line wikipedia in Russian and Polish; artist dictionaries by Thieme/Becker, Saur und Benezit.

Inscription: both signed and dated 1851 on the lower edges; antique bronze plaques with the artist name , mounted to the frames; on back of each canvas - stamp of a Paris canvas producer.

Technique: each oil on canvas,, painted in oval. Original period gilt frames.

Measurements: unframed w 24 1/3" x h 37" (62 x 94 cm), framed w 29 1/8" x h 41 3/4" (74 x 106 cm).

Condition: in good condition, professionally cleaned and restored.