Show all images on one page	#004142 Title: Snowmaiden Artist: Smirnova Vera Size: 10x12.5x4 Size (inches): 4x5x1.5 Price : $870 SOLD!

The exceptional talent of Vera Smirnova is used to paint this composition. As a Palekh artist she has excelled in breaking creative ground for herself and the village. She works with expression and emotion, then couples her fantastic skills to create breathtaking lacquer art.
The box shows a dramatic moment from the famous Russian fairy-tale of, "The Snowmaiden." In this particular scene we see the Snowmaiden starting to melt under the merciless sunrays of Yarilo the Sun God, and Mizgir trying to help her.
The palette is very bright and vividly shows each character. Each character is depicted in an animated fashion with brushwork that brings each to life. To bring the main focus on the Snowmaiden, the artist inlays gold leaf into her costume and into the sun that cuts its rays upon her. Gold metal leaf inlay also shines through the costumes of some other characters, and can be found in the elaborate leafy pattern that wraps around the scene. Smirnova works in details with gold paint that is fine and make the scene radiate with a tremendous glow.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. Gold leafy ornamentation wraps around the sides of the box. The box has a hinge to its left and rests on four legs. The work is signed with the artist's name, Palekh and the year of 2008.