Show all images on one page	#002845 Title: Morozko Artist: Shirokov Anatoliy Size: 24x18x4.5 Size (inches): 9x7.5x1.75 Price : $950 SOLD!

This marvelous piece of art of museum quality was painted by the famous Mstera artist Anatoly Shirokov. Here the artist depicted several scenes from the popular fairy-tale "Morozko". The subject of this tale may enchant anyone. A young girl is sent off into the woods on a bitterly cold night by her cruel stepmother. As she sits freezing under a tree, Father Frost himself comes across the girl. In spite of her suffering, she greets him politely and does not complain about her condition. Father Frost is so impressed by her stoicism and respectful demeanor that he rewards her with a fur coat, a box filled with jewels, and other fine treasures. The end of this fairy-tale is happy: the girl is rewarded, whereas her cruel stepmother and stepsister are punished.
In the center of the composition the artist depicts the familiar scene of the fairy-tale: Father Frost gives presents to the polite girl. In the bottom right corner of the composition the old man drives in the sledge pulling by the mighty steed. Not long ago he has left his beloved daughter in the forest to die from cold by the order of his cruel wife, and now he hastens to take her back home. Nearby the sledge the dog runs. Later this dog will yelp: "The old man's daughter is very pretty and dressed in rich clothes adorned with gold and silver, whereas the old woman's daughter is ugly and nobody wants to marry her". In the upper right corner we can see two cathedrals that tower above a small village. A little lower the old man and his daughter drive in the sledge back home.
This composition is a splendid sample of the Mstera lacquer miniature painting. It is well-designed and filled with different details. Besides the main characters we can find here different forest animals: hares, foxes, deer, birds; trees, bushes and firs muffled in white, fluffy snow; whimsical stubs with animated faces that look like wood-goblins; the golden moon, bright multicolored stars and snowflakes. Father Frost looks like a real forest spirit, the personification of the winter. He is the master of the forest. The crown on his head, and the scepter in his hands confirm his greatness. His body seems to be woven of dozens tiny snowflakes raised up by the wind. He throws gold and silver snowflakes into three small chests, where they immediately turn into precious stones and jewels. The girl is also well-drawn. Her shawl and coat are adorned with intricate patterns.
The artist uses a wide spectrum of different color combinations to create the magic, fairy-tale world. Painted mostly in the gray-olive palette, the composition is enlivened by yellows, pinks, reds and whites. Leaves of gold metallic foil inlayed in the portions of the sky, the girl's dress, some of the snowflakes make the composition look fantastically appealing, giving it a magic glow. More glowing wonder comes out of three chests filled with precious stones and snowflakes that are painted over tiny inlays of gold and silver leaf. Gold and aluminum paints also beautifully decorate the composition, helping to enhance the colors and attract a good amount of light.
The composition is framed with a gold line, which runs parallel to rich, intricate, and, undoubtedly, beautiful floral patterns painted in gold and aluminum. The similar floral patterns adorn the sides of the box.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while a brilliant red lacquer completes the interior of the box. A hinge is fastened to the top of the composition for ease of opening. The box rests on four carved feet. The artist writes his name, the village of Mstera, and the title at the bottom of the composition. In addition, Shirokov paints in gold his flourishing initials on the bottom of the box, again citing the title, Mstera, adding the year of 2006.
The Chief of the department of Lacquer Miniature of the All-Russia Museum of Folk and Applied Art Ludmila Pirogova has chosen similar composition of Shirokov's box as an illustration to her 2006 Book.