ROJANKOVSKY, FEDOR (1891-1970) Casanova, signed and dated 1926. Oil on canvas, 195 by 114 cm. Provenance: Private collection, UK. Casanova by Fedor Rojankovsky is a rare example of Art Deco in Russian painting. It was created at the time, when the artist was working on sets and props for the French silent film Casanova (or The Loves of Casanova, released in 1927), directed by Alexandre Volkoff and starring the popular then Russian actor Ivan Mosjoukine. The work was provided to Rojankovsky by his colleague Boris Bilinsky, who designed the set and costume designs for the production. In his spare time, the artist sketched behind the scenes activities of the movie-making, including impressions of Bilinsky’s elaborate 18th century settings, which were most possibly an inspiration for the composition Casanova.