Ilya Trofimovich Bogdesko (20 April 1923, Moldova — 2010, Saint Petersburg) — Soviet and Russian graphic artist and calligrapher, People's Artist of the USSR, professor. He is known for his illustrations to Cervantes's novel *Don Quixote*, handwritten books, and series of linocuts created primarily during his years in Moldova. From 1992 he lived in Saint Petersburg, where he devoted himself to calligraphy and type theory. The Litfond auction house describes Bogdesko as a classic of Soviet book illustration.[1][1][2]

Education and early career

From 1938 to 1941 he studied at the Kirov Art School. In 1951 he graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I. E. Repin — from the studios of K. I. Rudakov, M. A. Taranov, and S. V. Priselkov. His graduation work was a series of illustrations for Nikolai Gogol's story *Sorochyntsi Fair* (1951), which was subsequently recognized as a model of artistic expressiveness.[2] From 1952 to 1953 he taught at the Saratov Art School, then became chief artist at the Kartya Moldovenyaske publishing house in Chișinău.[2]

Creative work

During his Moldovan period, Bogdesko created the linocut series *My Homeland*, *Song*, and *The Call*, and also produced the handwritten design for Ion Creangă's book *The Purse with Two Coins*. For these works he was awarded the State Prize of the Moldavian SSR.[2]

The central place in the artist's graphic legacy is held by a cycle of 39 engravings for Cervantes's novel *The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha* — the result of twenty years of work. Even after the book was published, Bogdesko continued working on its illustrations.[2]

In the final years of his life he concentrated on calligraphy and type theory. The book *Calligraphy*, on which the artist worked for four years, was published in 2005. Bogdesko is represented in the collection of the Museum of World Calligraphy.[1][2]

Awards and titles

Bogdesko was awarded the title of USSR. He was decorated with two Orders of the Red Banner of Labour.[2]

Sources

  1. litfund.ru — Bogdesko Ilya Trofimovich — the Litfond auction house describes Bogdesko as a classic of Soviet book illustration.
  2. calligraphy-museum.com — Authors — Museum of World Calligraphy
  3. art-mx.ru — Sancho leaves the governorship