The poem RUSLAN AND LYUDMILA became Pushkin's first major completed work. Its first outlines were made by the poet while still at the Lyceum. However, serious work on the poem began only in February 1818 after the publication of the first volumes of Karamzin’s “History of the Russian State,” from which Pushkin borrowed many details. The first edition of RUSLAN AND LYUDMILA was published in 1820. The public received the poem with delight, and the publication began the all-Russian glory of Pushkin. Many lines of the poem have become catchphrases; for example: “Deeds of days gone by, legends of deep antiquity...”. The well-known fairy-tale character - a learned cat on a chain - from the preface to the poem. In 1899, in the Mamontov printing house, for the centenary of the birth of Pushkin, the poem RUSLAN AND LYUDMILA YOU "in a large landscape format. The luxurious edition was decorated with color illustrations made by the original artist Sergei Vasilyevich Malyutin Although he was a member of the Association of the Wanderers, many of his works clearly show the influence of Art Nouveau. It is no coincidence that Malyutin was also a member of the World of Art art association. In Paris, he demonstrated his works at an exhibition of Russian art organized by Sergei Diaghilev. An innovative approach in The art that Malyutin developed was fully manifested in his illustrations to RUSLAN AND LYUDMILA. In addition to the luxurious color drawings for the poem, he also created stylized original headpieces, vignettes and chapter endings. Malyutin’s wonderful works adorn this edition of the poem.