Show all images on one page	#002081 Title: Catherine the Great Artist: Monashov Size: 14.5x10.5x4.5 Size (inches): 5.75x4x1.75 Price : $650 SOLD!

Monashov from the village of Fedoskino reproduced this brilliant portrait of Catherine the Great from an unknown original. The artist has a great talent in crafting realistic textures, shading, and lifelike paintings. For this scene, he uses very soft white tones for the dress and contrast dark red colors for the background. This contrast helps to concentrate the viewer's attention on Catherine's figure and create perspective drawing. The depth of the scene is strengthened by painting fragments of the staircase and the wall in the right part of the composition. Monashov has proved his painting skill in this marvelous composition. This is evident from the details he accomplishes in such elements like the lace of the dress, the jewelry, and the shimmering texture of the satin dress. Shadows, highlights, and colorations are all combined for an immense sense of depth and realism. Catherine's face is also perfectly depicted, showing color, shape, and texture. Her clear blue eyes stare ahead with poise and beauty. A flawless palette of color and precise attention to detail all contribute to this piece making it a sincere portrait of Russian lacquer artistry.
There is an interesting fact that the blue ribbon that decorates Catherine's costume is a component of the Order of Andrey Pervozvanny, which is the first Russian order. It was instituted by Peter I in 1699. The basic component of this order is the enameled "X"-shaped Cross, on which, according to the legend, Saint Andrew was crucified. This cross was worn on the wide blue ribbon thrown over the right shoulder. The other component is the eight-rayed Star with the central medallion depicting the Cross of Andrey Pervozvanny (it is also painted here). Such famous people as P.A. Rumyantsev, A.V. Suvorov, G.A. Potyomkin were awarded with this order.
The portrait is framed with a gold line. The sides of the box are adorned with two parallel gold lines.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. The box has a hinge from the left of the composition and rests on four legs. The box is signed with the artist's name, the village of Fedoskino and the year of 2005.