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 | Gypsies by Lyatov, Trofim Petrovich of Palekh #770098 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Russian Sunbirds |
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"Gypsies" is a poem written by Alexander Pushkin, which was finished in 1824 during his exile in Mikhailovskoe. The girl Zemfira is presenting Aleko, who is wanted by the law and was found by the girl in the wilderness, to her father. Aleko wants to become a gypsy as well, and he and Zemfira wish to be together. The father accepts the lad on condition that he takes up some kind of activity within the gypsy group. Two years go by, and Zemfira begins to tire of her husband Aleko. Burdened by possessive jealousy, even a long counsel with her father does nothing to assuage Aleko's passions. Awakening one night to find Zemfira gone, Aleko goes off in search of her. Finding his bride with another gypsy, his rage overboils, and he plunges a dagger into the lad. Overcome with jealousy, he slays Zemfira as well. When the troupe awakens and beholds the night's events, they quietly bury the dead and take their leave of the 'man of pride'.
Although this is a sad and seemingly dismal scene, there is a great deal that Pushkin has put between the lines about civilization and its binds on a person, as well as about human nature in any condition. Palekh artist Trofim Lyatov has depicted the beginning of this tale: Zemfira's still abroad; unheeded Her father's poor repast grows cold. But there, she's coming; and together With her, strange to the old man's gaze-- A lad comes striding through the heather. "My father," thus the maiden says "I bring a guest, found in the distance Beyond the barrow as I went; I bade him slumber in our tent. He wants to share our own existence, And I shall be his gypsy love; For where he dwelt, the law pursues him. His name--Aleko. He Will rove, He vows, where I rove; and I choose him." In true Palekh tradition, Lyatov has painted the scene with elongated figures, a black sky and background, and with gold detailing throughout the scene. The composition comes to a natural end, and is then framed by a beautiful ornamental filigree, an unusual and unconnected design. The sides of the box are decorated with a delicate floral pattern, and gold beadings rings the beveled bottom edge of the box. The lid is hinged, and the piece stands on four large round feet. This piece has weathered the test of time surprisingly well. The right side of the box has some minor chips, but there is no damage anywhere to the paper-mache itself. The painting, now exposed since the lacquer has sunk in, is in excellent condition except for one small chip on the far right side of the scene. Unlike many antique pieces, there is no crazing--small cracking like splintered glass--on the box. A beautiful addition to an antique collection, or a great piece from which to begin one! Materials: paper-mache, black and red lacquer, egg-tempera paint, gold.
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