Show all images on one page	#002473 Title: Girl in Russian costume Artist: Zayakin Alexander Size: 8.5x7.5x3.5 Size (inches): 3.25x3x1.5 Price : $495 SOLD!

Simple in its design but exquisite in its implementation, this portrait of a Russian girl is an incredible miniature! Alexander Zaykin has combined brilliant skill with oil paints in shading, coloring, texturing, with a gift for realism, and delicate decoration. This piece is truly a work of art, from top to bottom!
The girl pictured here is the daughter of a merchant. She has just recently been wed, and wears the feast attire of a bride. The Russian traditional headdress "kokoshnik" is on her head. These kokoshniks were very ornamental and were originally to be worn only by married women.
The artist uses a palette that gives the pure representations of the human form. Light skin-tone paints are used to paint the hands and face, which bring about an advanced realism. The decorated wedding dress is given a formal appeal with its complex patterns and intricate designs. Her kokoshnik also reflects the complexity of her dress, which is decorated with ornate patterns of beads that would've been sown into the cloth. Both the kokoshnik and the ornaments on the dress shine brightly because of a gold metal leaf underlayer.
The exterior of the box is dark brown, while its interior is traditionally red. The composition is framed with elegant gold ornamentation. The sides of the box are decorated with more complex gold designs accented with red oils. Almost invisible red blurry spots can be also found on the sides. The lid is hinged from the left side of the composition, and the box sits flat. The box is signed, and dated (2006) by the artist.