Russian Lacquer Box, Fedoskino, Fairy Tale, Handmade, Jewelry Box, Gift Box, Lacquer Miniature
The Russian North
SIZE: 15 x 11 x 4 cm.
Here we see the pristine island
preserve of Kizhi, which is situated on Lake Onega in the northern part of European
Russia. The island is a living museum, home to one of the most famous Russian
cathedrals, the
Transfiguration Cathedral. The cathedral, which is the centerpiece
of this composition, was built in 1714 and does not have one nail in its entire structure. Legend
has it that it was built by a master carpenter, and the only tool he used in building
the structure was an ax. After completing the structure, he proclaimed
that he would never be able to build a more perfect structure, and in the
shadow of his splendid
masterpiece, tossed the ax into the lake.
Full of waterways and frozen soil the
Russian North represents the rugged and wild side of Russian culture
and history. Here a flock of swans flies over the breathtaking Transfiguration
Cathedral, angels
from heaven, gliding over the pristine landscape. Bright white
light shines down from heaven, an extremely moving touch, showing the delicate balance of
God's perfect creation.
The artist has used a rare pallet of
mellow earth tones: mint green, antique white and golden brown. Gold
paint is used to highlight leaves of the trees, the plants in the foreground
and, of course, the feathers in the wings of these beautiful swans. Gold is also
decorating the walls of Cathedral.
The structure of the church is painted
very precisely, each plank and angle defined and dimensionally shaded.
The landscape is painted with smooth watercolor like brushstrokes, creating
soft, rolling hillocks,
gradually meeting with the dark expanse of water.