Show all images on one page	#001324 Title: St. Petersburg Artist: Strunin Mikhail Size: 17.5x12.5x3 Price : $395 SOLD!

This box that shows the town of St. Petersburg was painted by the well-known Mstera artist Mikhail Strunin. The drawing features a number of monumental buildings of St. Petersburg, situated along the Neva River. In the center of the composition we see the symbols of this town: the St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Bronze Horseman, which is a statue of Peter the Great that was dedicated to him by Catherine the Great. To the left from the St. Isaac's cathedral there is the Admiralty and the monument to Nicholas I. This statue is very unique in that it has only two points of support, whereas most statues of this size need three. It was molded into form by Pyotr Klodt, who will always be remembered for this feat of balance. To the right from the St. Isaac's cathedral there is the Stock Exchange. In December of 1811 the Exchange opened its doors. The massive building resembles the Temple of Poseidon in Paestum. Behind the St. Isaac's Cathedral there is the Palace Square and the Hermitage, founded by Catherine the Great, which is now a world famous museum. Behind the Hermitage we can see the Kazansky Cathedral and in the far background there is the spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Strunin's palette is based on greens, blues, browns and yellows. The linear construction of the architecture is precisely drawn and the proportions give an accurate portrayal of the buildings. The buildings are detailed and highlighted with gold and aluminum paint, which is most noticeable in the domes on the churches.
The edges of the lid and the box's sides are decorated with beautiful gold and aluminum floral patterns. 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 work. The lid is hinged and the box rests on a flat bottom. On the bottom of the composition the artist paints in gold the village of Mstera, and his original signature, whereas on the top of the composition he writes the title "St. Petersburg".