The creaks within the creaks can be heard, it is that quiet. As the breeze whips through the branches, massaging the leaves, whispers can be heard. As the human world becomes infected, nature observes. It has been around a lot longer. The whispers concern an arrival, a coming. The coming of a hero.
Marya Populova of Palekh is the young but talented painter responsible for this beautiful work. It is a fine example of possibility and outcome, and the tutelage of her parents, both highly skilled artists. Marya's ability exuded the possibility for impressive miniature presentations early on in her life. The outcome has been just that.
Egg-tempera paint is the primary medium used to compose this elegant depiction of a classic fairy-tale. "The Sleeping Princess." Due to a powerful spell, through the pricking of a lovely finger, this entire kingdom has fallen fast asleep. The Princess, marked by evil, has but only one hope. That hope comes by the way of the handsome Prince. The lid's composition reflects upon one of the earliest moments from the romantic tale. Originally, this story was written by French author Charles Perrault as he published a collection of fairy-tales entitled, "Stories of Olden Times," in 1697. The tale has since been adopted into various versions in the many countries of the world--in Russia it is known as "Sleeping Princess..." This is of course the more legendary and medieval version of what is known by many through childhood as, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
The box is constructed from paper-mache made in the village of Palekh. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. As customary with Palekh tradition, the black lacquer exterior also acts like the background for the scene. This feature works wonders for the foliage and the precisely laid out architecture. There is great clarity here, the overall organization used to place the features of the scene, is clean and without error.
The artist has done an excellent job with enhancement by adding bright golden and aluminum contours throughout the composition. The greenery appears to flutter in the wind because of the gold that rainbows outward among each and every branch. The architectural structures have an enchanting quality about them that is impossible to deny. The roof tops and archways have been countered in order to promote their luxurious appeal. The clothing of the characters has also been intensified in this way. Flowered patterns, filigree dazzle and golden seams can be found twinkling leaft and right. This is a very well executed piece.
The lid's composition is framed with two strings of golden beads that run parallel to one another. One string is slightly larger than the other. All four base sides have been decorated with a garden of brilliant ornamentation. Shimmering golden filigree expands like a bouquet of fresh roses. All of the golden extensions are central to large wild flowers painted with aluminum paint. The box rests upon four angled feet carved as an extension of the base.
Upon completion of the piece the artist signs their name, the village name of Palekh and the year of 2003 of which the piece was finished along the bottom of the composition in gold paint.
Materials: Egg-tempera paint, paper-mache, gold paint, aluminum paint and lacquer.
About Artist Populova, Marya Yevgenievna:
Populova Marya Yevgenievna was born in 1982 in the village of Palekh, Ivanovo Region, where she resides at present.
In 2002 the artist finished the Palekh Art School. Her teachers were Morokin V.F., Golubev O.L., Buldakov V.V., Smirnov N.M., Belousova T.N., Belousov M.R., Lopatin N.P. The graduation project of Populova M.Ye. included the box entitled “Winter in Palekh”.
Populova M.Ye. won the diploma in the competition “Palekh box” that took place at the exhibition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Palekh lacquered miniature.
Now Marya Yevgenievna works at the Union of Palekh artist and studies at the Shuya Pedagogical University.
The artist paints her works in the traditi
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read about Populova, Marya Yevgenievna
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Item Specifications:
- Title: "The Sleeping Princess 2003"
- Weight: 12.7 oz 361 g
- Price: $975.00
- Status: SOLD
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