Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf is a Russian folk tale that has entranced children and adults for generations. Sixteen of Danila Vassilieff’s illustrations for the story are featured in this delightful publication from the National Gallery of Australia. The original works are part of two separate series painted by Vassilieff in late 1948 at his home in Warrandyte, near Melbourne. They are painted in water-based paint on butcher’s paper and because of their extreme fragility will rarely be on public display. By publishing this book the Gallery brings to a wider audience this charming aspect of Vassifieff’s work and the joy of the story of Peter and the Wolf.