Groussay. Aquarelles d'Alexandre Serebriakoff

Pierre Arizzoli-Clementel. Illustrations by Alexandre Serebriakoff.

Editions Gourcuff Gradenigo. Montreuil. 2019. First edition. Hardback; oblong blue printed boards, with gilt titles, housed in illustrated slipcase. 112 pages. Illustrated throughout in colour. French. 250 x 305mm. 1.35kg. 9782353403073. Fine; as new.

An album of Alexandre Serebriakoff's watercolours of Charles de Beistegui's Chateau de Groussay. Groussay's interiors were some of the most significant of the 20th century, created by Beistegui with the aid of Emilio Terry. The double-height library was the inspiration behind Cecil Beaton's design for Henry Higgin's library in My Fair Lady. Serebriakoff was commissioned to create a series of exquisite watercolours of each room. The resulting 35 artworks are reproduced here. Pierre Arizzoli-Clementel provides a history of the house and a commentary on the decoration of each room.