Charlemagne Iosif

Charlemagne Iosif (1880-1957), Graphic artist, painter, scene designer. Honored Art Worker of Georgia. He was the offspring of the 17th century French sculptor, who naturalized in Russia. He was born in Petersburg. I. Charlemagne studied at Petersburg Academy of Art. Starting from 1917, he lived in Tbilisi. He was carried away by Georgian culture and made its close study. He was one of the founders of Tbilisi Academy of Art (as of 1941, he held the position of its professor). In 1922 – 33, he headed the Faculty of Graphics of the said Academy; in 1933 – 37 he was in charge of its Chair of Graphics. I. Charlemagne was one of the pioneers of book graphics in Georgia. He has done illustrations for the following books: One-Volume Edition of Nikoloz Baratashvili’s poems (1922), Giorgi Saakadze by V. Barnov (1939), Great Visier by A. Antonovskaya (1950) and others. At Tbilisi Opera Theater I. Charlemagne designed the productions of Eugene Onegin by P. Tchaikovsky, Tzar’s Bride by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, etc. Together with E. Lansere, he created the coat of arms of the Georgian SSR (1921).

I. Charlemagne died in Tbilisi. He was buried at Didube Pantheon.