Show all images on one page	#001648 Title: Tale of the Vital waters and Youth bringing apples Artist: Galda Nikolay Size: 11x7.5x2 Size (inches): 4.25x3x0.75 Price : $650 SOLD!

This marvelous box has been painted by the outstanding Kholuy artist Nikolay Galda. Its subject is based on the thrilling Russian fairy-tale "The Apples of Youth and the Water of Life". The old Tsar dreams of returning him youth and being young again. He sends his three sons to carry him the golden apples and the water of life. With the help of the golden apples, he hopes to become young again, and with the help of the magic water, he intends to heal his poor eyesight. Having been tempted and deceived by a wicked maiden, the elder brothers are taken prisoner, while their young brother Ivan Tsarevich manages to fulfill this task. Here the artist has depicted a wonderful assembly of scenes from this tale to acquaint the viewer with its plot as well as possible. In the right upper corner of the composition we can see one of the elder brothers languishing in captivity of the wicked maiden. In the left bottom corner the Blue-Eyed Maiden sleeps near the well with the water of life. In the center of the composition Ivan Tsarevich has stolen the apples of youth and the water of life from the garden of the incomparably beautiful Blue-Eyed Maiden, and now he tries to elude pursuit. In the right bottom corner Ivan Tsarevich rides the magic steed given to him by Baba Yaga and a little below the artist depicts the Blue-Eyed Maiden. In the left upper corner the bird Nagai carries food to its nestlings, and next to this scene we can see the Blue-Eyed Maiden washing in the bathhouse. Having discovered the loss of her apples, she decides to punish the thief and starts pursuing Ivan Tsarevich. Baba-Yaga and her sisters contrive different methods to detain her: one of them offers her to drink milk, the other one offers her to eat pancakes and the third one offers her to take a steam bath in the bath-house.
The details in this composition expose Galda as a true master of his craft. Detailing enhances architecture, facial expression and landscape. Purposeful precision. The colors that he takes from his palette are light greens, yellows, browns and reds. Gold paint is used to outline and highlight areas of emphasis in the scene. This is done with subtlety and an eye for artistic integrity. This Galda's artwork captures the imagination and refuses to let go.
The edges of the lid and the sides of the box are adorned with elegant gold and aluminum ornamentation. The bottom of the box is also decorated with gold and aluminum filigree ornamentation. The box is made of paper-mache. The box's exterior and interior are covered with red lacquer. A hinge has been fastened to the top of the composition for ease of opening, and the box rests on a flat bottom. The artist completes the piece by writing the title, "Kholui", and his name in gold paint under the composition. In the interior of the lid the artist also writes the title, "Kholui", the year of 2005, the confirmation that it is the original author's work and his name.