Show all images on one page	#001030 Title: Tale of a Frog Princess Artist: Strunina Tatiana Size: 16x7.5x3 Price : $320 SOLD!

This wonderful compostion has been painted by the talented Mstera artist Tatyana Strunina. Tatyana is the well established artist who's participated in many exhibitions and received many rewards. Her composition "Humpbacked Pony" is sited in the catalogue by Kultyshev K.N., 1999, Mstyora lacquered miniature, center of traditional Mstyora miniature. The artist paints her works in the style that resemble the style of her father Pyotr Strunin.
The box shows the scene from the tale of the Frog Princess. This is the beginning of the story when Ivan returns to the palace with the frog that is destined to be his wife. The reason of it was the tsar's order. He has told his three sons to fire their arrows high into the sky. The arrows must land and show them the place where they can find their wives. The results of the shots are unexpected. The eldest sons find their arrows near the houses of beautiful rich maidens, while Ivan finds his arrow right near a frog.
Here we can see the frog sitting in the carriage that is driving her to the palace. A servant meets her with bread and salt according to the ancient Russian tradition of hospitality. Inside the palace we can see the tsar and the brides of the eldest brothers sitting at the table covered with delicious food and the glasses of wine. To the right of this scene the eldest brothers pleased with their future wives are depicted.
Tatyana Stunina's palette is bold and the color combinations are full of life. She has incorporated Mstera's decorative style and the icon painting techniques, that have made lacquer art so popular, into this work.
Tatyana has done an excellent job in painting a great deal of action without letting the piece seem overly busy. The architecture is neatly painted with a lot of details but it doesn't look massive. A good job is also done with the characters' faces. It is easy to tell them apart based on their features, and their costumes also establish their roles. The miniature painting throughout the work is quite good. The artist uses multiple types of brushstrokes in order to create diversity within the moment depicted. There is the ornamental floor of the ballroom, the swirls within the water and the sky, the geometry of the buildings and the carriage, different ornaments on the clothes of the characters, and smooth brushstrokes in depicting the horses and the elements of the landscape. Tiny and delicate brushstrokes of gold paint enhance many parts of the scene, enhancing details and providing definition to the composition as is the case in well-done Mstera miniature.
The box is made out of paper-mache made in Mstera. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the piece. The lid of the box removes easily without hinge. Gold floral ornamentation frames the scene on the lid. Another very similar design, but a little bigger in size, wraps around the sides of the box. The box rests on a flat bottom. The box is signed with the artist's name, village and title.