#004393 Title: Elegant Girls Artist: Frolova Tatiana Size: 19.5x15.5x5 Size (inches): 7.75x6x2 Price: $850

Before the innovation of the camera, oil and canvas were used to capture an image for posterity. A good portrait required great time and skill on the part of the artist, as well as a patient subject. Portraits were not cheap, so they were reserved mainly for the nobility, like this gorgeous portrait of two little girls that come from a rich European family.
Tatiana Frolova is the author of this brilliant work. Tatiana has been painting in Fedoskino for a number of years. She has mastered the intricate art of portraiture and her compositions are in high demand. Painting the portraits of former masters is one way she earns her keep, but she also does a great deal of custom orders for those who wish to immortalize themselves on a lacquer box. Her experience is thoroughly exuded through this piece here.
To paint this work the artist has used various shades of red, brown and green oils. A shining piece of mother-of-pearl is set into the aquarium to give it a realistic look. The portrait is framed with a thin gold line. The box's sides are decorated with two parallel gold lines.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. A hinge is fastened to the top of the portrait, and the box rests on four legs. The work is signed with the artist's name, Fedoskino and the year of 2008.