Show all images on one page	#004286 Title: Panorama of Moscow in 18the Century Artist: Strunin Mikhail Size: 30.5x11x6 Size (inches): 12x4.25x2.25 Price : $1250 SOLD!

This large rectangular box was painted by Mikhail Strunin from the village of Mstera. The scene depicted on this box is a copy of an old painting drawn in the 18th century. Painted in delicate grey, brown and yellow tones this scene opens up a grandiose panorama of the ancient Moscow Kremlin. White-stone cathedrals and splendid palaces rise behind the strong fortifications, the burnished gold onion domes glisten on the sun, and the townspeople are occupied with their daily routine.
The box's exterior is decorated with luxuriant ornaments painted in gold, silver, and orange, brown and grey tempera paints. These ornaments consist of whimsical scrolls, flowers, and completed with the coat-of-arms of the Moscow Principality that looks like the double-headed eagle (it is the present coat-of-arms of the Russian Federation), and the coat-of-arms of some south principalities of old Rus that looks like the winged wolf. Besides these complex ornaments the exterior is also decorated with common gold filigree patterns. The box has two additional compositions painted on the box's front and rear sides. In the middle of the front and rear sides we can see picturesque views of Red Square of the Moscow Kremlin painted in tempera and gold paints.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on four legs. The work is signed with the artist's name, Mstera, and the title ("The Panorama of Moscow. 18th century").