They have made their case and they've said their peace. They are done sweating, ready to dry their brows they are. He'll massage his beard, deep in thought. Concentrating upon the group he is. It is very quiet now, silent sort of. Each crackle of the slowly crashing waves, waves the size of fingers, echo now like the cymbals in a brass band. Is patience here? Is there aggravation? The gathering waits. And that is all that they can do. Wait.
This is fairy-tale. It has been created through the ingenious creativity of one Valentin Tikhomirov of Mstera. Audiences feel as if they are within the story itself when they are in the presence of the artist's work. Is it the color combinations? Could it be the spirited assembly of well executed ornamentation. The truth of the matter is, it is a mixture of many elements. Each area compliments the next, creating the ideal depiction of fairy-tale. A depiction that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Egg-tempera paint is the primary medium used to compose this colorful moment from
"The Tale of Tsar Saltan." The composition represents a search. After a deceit-induced separation from his son, Tsar Saltan learns of the boy's true location and even more profound identity. Here, Tsar Saltan sits listening to the pitiful explanation given by the merchant to his immediate right. The jealous sisters to his left can hardly contain the laughter within. In the distance, but actually not quite this close, we see the home kingdom of Prince Gvidon. The ship in the background just might have the answers that the Tsar is looking for. Sometimes, when searching high and low, the answers are there right in front of you.
The box is constructed from paper-mache made in the village of Mstera. Black lacquer was used to paint the exterior of the piece while a gorgeous red lacquer completes the interior of the work. A hinge has been fastened to the top of the composition to be used for ease of opening. The box comes to rest upon four angled feet.
The decorative elements of the presentation have been offered as some of Tikhomirov's best work. He's created a Byzantine band of ornamentation that frames the lid's artistry and it also decorates all four base sides. These designs appear palace worthy, they are that well planned and executed. A light caramel tone fills in the gold paint that makes up this alluring addition to the whole. The lower extending edge of the base is patterned with bright golden beadwork that gets enhanced by the ornamentation.
The composition itself is a candy store of opportunity. The eyes want to dart here and then there, sampling each delicious line and scrumptious shape. The artist has done a fine job with the juxtaposition of Tsar Saltan's foreground palace and that of the distant Prince Gvidon's. This shows just how close Tsar Saltan is to finding the truth. The pillars and arches of Tsar Saltan's palace have an elegant geometry about them. The pinks, dusty greens, powder blues and yellows work wonders for the royal effect desired by Tikhomirov. The background sea appears placid while adding to the depth needed to produce distance. The artist used gold paint to accentuate the character's clothes and the rooftops of the structures.
Upon completion of the piece the artist signs their name, the title and the village name of Mstera along the bottom of the composition in gold paint.
Materials: Egg-tempera paint, paper-mache, gold paint and lacquer.
About Artist Tikhomirov, Valentin Leonidovich:
Valentin Leonidovich Tikhomirov is a renowned artist to those who know his work in lacquer miniatures! Tikhomirov was born in 1947 in the village of Chernovorie in the Vyaznikovsky region of Vladimirskaya County. He currently resides in a large house in Mstera along with his family: his wife, daughter and her husband and their baby daughter. Incidentally, everyone in the family paints lacquer boxes.
He studied under E.N. Zonina and N.I. Shishakov at the Mstera Art School before graduating in 1967. His diploma work was "Conquest of Siberia". He began working at the Mstera Art Factory directly after graduation. Later, he was invited to teach classes in miniature painting, and was
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read about Tikhomirov, Valentin Leonidovich
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Item Specifications:
- Title: "The Tale of Tsar Saltan 2003"
- Price: $900.00
- This specific item is available as a single work.
We do not expect to carry this item in the foreseeable future!
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