AUTHOR'S WORK
LACQUERED BOX
This wonderful "treasure chest" holds an epic tale: at the centre, Ilya Muromets, one of the most famous heroes of Russian epic poems , faces Nightingale the Robber , symbol of the chaotic forces of the forest, in a duel which in the byliny represents the victory of courage and order over disorder.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET OF THE WORK
| ARTIST |
Alexander Vasilievich Zaitsev |
| ART SCHOOL |
Palekh |
| DATING |
1958 |
| DIMENSIONS |
length: 17 cm
width: 10 cm |
| MATERIAL |
papier-mâch
|
| TECHNIQUE |
egg tempera,
lacquering |
| CONDITION |
EXCELLENT |
Features: unique piece - collectible - rarity
Ideal for: Store jewelry and small precious objects as artistic jewelry boxes, trinket boxes, or decorative keepsakes; An elegant gift idea for special occasions; An artistic or handcrafted gift for lovers of unique objects; Enhance a space as a decorative furnishing accessory or refined designer piece; Display as a decorative ornament or display object; Enhance an art collection or represent a small art investment to be treasured over time.
Shipping: International, with careful packaging and tracking code.
THE PAINTING
The scene depicts the encounter between Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber , a central episode of ancient Russian byliny. The composition is built on a diagonal tension that runs across the entire surface: on the left, the hero, galloping forward with determination; on the right, the robber is perched on the tree, ready to unleash his destructive whistle. The horse, captured in an ascending motion, raises its forelegs while its red cloak expands into a fluid mass that amplifies the impetus of the action. The hero's diagonal contrasts with the tree's verticality, creating a formal confrontation between momentum and rootedness. The sinuous trunk and the foliage, fragmented into minute blue brushstrokes, serve as a stable structure and a scenic backdrop. The space is reduced to the essential: soft hills and stylized vegetation define a theatrical plane, typical of the Palekh School tradition. The lacquered black background enhances the luminosity of the colors: the warm yellow of the horse, the bright red of the cloak, the greens and turquoises of the vegetation. The sharp contours and subtle gilding define and stabilize the figures. The work thus translates the epic episode into an elegant and controlled visual synthesis, where the duel is not just a physical clash, but a symbolic confrontation between heroic order and savage strength.
