Show all images on one page	#001034 Title: Empress Catherine The Great Artist: Dmitriev Sergey Size: 18x24x4.5 Size (inches): 7.5x9x1.75 Price : $1200 SOLD!

This wonderful box has been painted by the talented painter Sergey Dmitriev. The composition depicts the Empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. She was the Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, and is well known for carrying out the policy of Westernization in Russia started by Peter the Great. This made Russia a superior European power. Originally named Sophie Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst, Catherine was born in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland) in 1729. She was the daughter of a minor German prince who went to Russia at the invitation of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna (the daughter of Peter I) as the bride of the heir to the throne, Peter Feodorovich. Bringing about a bloodless palace revolution, she managed to dethrone her husband Peter Feodorovich, seize power and became the Empress of Russia. The time of Catherine's rule was a time of awakening of scientific, literary, and philosophic interests in Russian society. In Catherine's time many special schools and new institution of higher learning were inaugurated, including military schools, medical colleges, public libraries and the first educational institution for women - the Smolny institute. In the period of her rule the territory of Russia considerably increased. As a result of Russian-Turkish wars the territories of Kuban, Crimea, the North coast of the Black Sea, and Georgia were joined to Russia. Population increased from 19 to 34 million people, the sum of annual revenue increased from 16 to 68 million rubles, and 144 new towns were built.
The background imagery is one of the most enchanting compositions of St. Petersburg one may find upon a lacquer miniature. Looking at it attentively we can make a tour of St. Petersburg. In the upper left portion of the composition we see a view from the Kazansky bridge, in Griboyedov Canal, of the Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection (also known as The Savior on Blood). Just below that we see the Hermitage. It was Catherine the Great who founded the Hermitage, now a world famous museum. Just to the right of the Hermitage we have the Admiralty Spire. The original Admiralty was one of the first structures to be built in St. Petersburg. To the far right of the composition is St. Isaac's Cathedral. Just below the St. Isaac's Cathedral is the Stock Exchange. In the left bottom corner the St. Peter and Paul Fortress is depicted. In the upper portion of the composition two angels are blowing the horns, glorifying Catherine the Great.
Darkness dominates the composition. The abundant usage of dark olive greens, gray, dark white and hints of blue-green fits splendidly the chosen subject. Massive amounts of aluminum paint, with a thick olive-tan background color, is used to portray the murky waters of the Neva river. The scene is enriched by very fine and delicate gold paint added over the drawing, giving the work a magic glow.
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. Fine golden scrollwork is used to decorate the outer edge of the lid's composition, while the corners of the composition are decorated with intricate gold floral designs. The skillfully painted golden crown is woven into the bottom part of the golden scrollwork. The sides are decorated with some of the most elaborate filigree design one will find. Majestic gold accentuated with beads of aluminum, a fountain of elegant artistry. A hinge is fastened to the top of the composition. The box will rest on four rounded feet carved from the bottom of the work. The box is signed with the artist's name, village, and title. The artist has added an inscription to the interior of the lid. Here, Dmitriyev writes the title of "Empress" in Russian, the fact that this is an author original design, his name, the village name of Kholuy, the year of 2002 of which the piece was finished and is flaring signature all in gold.