Show all images on one page	#001662 Title: Dobrynya and a Snake Artist: Shubin Alexey Size: 11.5x15.5x5 Size (inches): 4.5x6x2 Price : $335 SOLD!

Aleksey Shubin is the accomplished artist responsible for this alluring piece of radiant Russian artistry. The colors are rich and full of energy, the same energy that swells within this vigorous battle. They interact wildly, in much the same way as the characters do, clashing in a hypnotic romance of combustible aggression.
The artist has chosen to depict the legendary Bogatyr warrior known as Dobrynya Nikitich. He is known primarily for his dramatic battles with dragons. Once upon a far away Holy Russia, Nikitich killed the young of a wicked she-dragon named Goryshche. The mother of Nikitich, Amelfia Timofeyevna, warned him never to return to the Sorochinsk Mountains where the dragon lived or the mysterious waters of the river Puchai. Nikitich ignored his mother's warning and he was soon back in dragon hunting country within the month.
Soon enough, Dobrynya Nikitich was swimming in the lukewarm waters of the river Puchai. He dove as deep as he could. But, as he rose to the surface, he noticed an odd light above the water. When his head broke through the water he encountered a layer of fire and smoke, the likes of which he'd never seen before! It was the she-dragon Goryshche! He swam quickly to the other side of the river, unfortunately without his clothes! Once on shore, he found a priest's hat that he knew he could use as the perfect shield. It was a swift battle. Nikitich had the dragon begging for mercy and the two of them made a deal. Nikitich said that he'd never again come to these parts while the dragon promised to never again steal or kill anything within the borders of Holy Russia.
After some traveling, Dobrynya Nikitich returned home. He returned home to find disaster! The she-dragon did not live up to her end of the deal! Instead, the dragon kidnapped Princess Zabava, who was the favorite niece of the powerful Prince Vladimir the Bright Sun who ruled over this land. Vladimir was outraged once he found out that it was Nikitich that let the dragon live in the first place! Vladimir demanded that Nikitich kill the dragon, rescue the Princess or suffer a brutal beheading! Nikitich traveled back to the mountains of Sorochinsk with a horse given to him by his mother. Eventually, he met the she-dragon again!
Words were hardly needed, and the two of them fought violently for three straight days! Finally, the dragon was killed. Nikitich then unlocked a cavern filled with cells holding several of the hard working peasants of Holy Russia. Princess Zabava was in the final cell unlocked! Dobryna had won, but then he was stranded in a lake made from the spilled blood of the dragon. Luckily, Mother Nature witnessed the whole affair and she created a crevice to drain the blood. A hero is always rewarded...
The painting within the scene is exceptional. The design is medieval and the colors are fascinating. Bright red-orange, luscious pink, rich blue, soothing aquamarine and a myriad of earth tones make up the artist's palette. There is ample texture within the scales of the dragon and all of the clothing of the characters, especially within the bogatyr's armor. The main composition depicts Nikitich Dobrynya as he finishes off the dragon. In the upper right hand corner we see Vladimir as he hopes beyond hope for Princess Zabava's safe return. Using the Kholuy method of iconographic painting, which allows multiple areas of time and space to coexist upon the same surface, the artist paints Princess Zabava already released from her capture.
The dynamic aspect of the scene comes by the way of the swirling explosions of smoke, the rapid splash of the water along the river's rugged edge and the fierce worry etched into Vladimir's face.
The artist makes excellent use of elaborate gold contouring throughout the composition. The dragon has a shimmering, bridle-like necklace worn around its neck and bracelets fastened around its claws. The clothing of Nikitich and Princess Zabava has been thoroughly accentuated with filigree-like gold designs. Charming from beginning to end, a beautiful find.
The composition is framed with aluminum beads, whereas the edges of the lid are framed with golden filigree with aluminum accents. This is eclectic work. All four sides of the box have been decorated with the same type of lovely filigree as used for the framing of the lid's edges, only here it is a little wider.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. A hinge has been fastened to the left of the composition and the box rests upon a flat bottom. The artist has signed his name, the title and the village name of Kholuy along the bottom of the composition in gold paint