This is potent work, work that was created by master talent Nataliya Orlova from the village of Fedoskino. She consistently produces miniature presentations that swarm the imagination while exuding her own. The characters are fascinating features that live within the moment depicted. They are so much more than aesthetic products of her skill. It is often difficult to imagine that scenes like this are painted by hand. But, this amazing truth is a cherished reality.
The scene depicted here is derived from the classic Russian fairy-tale, "The Dead Princess and the Seven Bogatyrs." 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."
It is fascinating to see how story changes through time and culture. In the Russian tale, there is an evil jealousy possessed by the new wife of the powerful Tsar. His first wife passed during child birth and the new Tsaritza has taken over. The Tsaritza, or Queen, despises all that look of general complexion. She also wishes to be the "loveliest woman in the kingdom." Her magical mirror tells her so, until...
Oil-based paint is the primary medium used to compose this gorgeous foreshadowing of mayhem laden mischief. The details are stunning. There are multiple areas with an added third dimension. The dress of the Princess is one of the more elaborate pieces of clothing any artist has been able to render viewable. The ruffles and the design work are thoroughly illuminated by a deep inlay of mother-of-pearl. That addition can be seen in the lower portion of the Princess's dress and in the dirty locks of the hag. There is great depth to the room behind the open door and also within the leaves of the rose bushes to the right.
The box is constructed from paper-mache made in the village of Fedoskino. The exterior of the box is a festival of color and decoration. What is most spectacular is that this exterior radiance can also be found within the interior of the box. Reds and oranges mix among one another to develop the base coat of the exterior and interior. Gold paint, aluminum powder and the dab of sponge work have created shimmering bubbles that look a lot like the scales of a dragon! The scales evolve into scrolling squiggles and vice versa. Nothing has been left to the imagination because the artist has drained hers.
A unique, scrolling type of design has been used to frame the lid's composition. It also acts as a uniform decoration that wraps itself like a ribbon all over the surface of the piece. Uniform because the pattern breaks only when the box is opened. This design is made up of aluminum, gold, peach and powder blue paints. A hinge has been fastened to the left of the composition to be used for ease of opening. Upon completion of the piece the artist signs their name and the year of 2003 of which the piece was finished along the bottom of the composition.
Materials: Oil-based paint, paper-mache, gold paint, aluminum paint, mother-of-pearl and lacquer.
About Artist Orlova, Nataliya Grigoriyevna:
Orlova Natalya Grigorievna was born in 1976 in the town of Dmitrov, Moscow Region.
In 1996 the artist finished the Fedoskino School of miniature painting. Her teachers were Gorodilin Boris Petrovich who taught painting and drawing and Sinelnikova (Kuzmenko) Viktorya Valerievna who taught production and composition. Her diploma work was a copy of the picture “The arrival of a governess in the merchant house”.
N.G. Orlova’s creative works include the following compositions:
1. “A prolonged confession” (1996);
2. “An evening on the eve of the Epiphany” (1997);
3. “It’s not a human being, but it can speak” (1996);
4. “Dragonfly” (2000);
5. “The tale of a fisher
...
read about Orlova, Nataliya Grigoriyevna
|
Item Specifications:
- Title: "The Dead Princess and the Seven Bogatyrs 2003"
- Price: $950.00
- Status: SOLD
|
Related Stories, Legends & Readings:
|
|
