Show all images on one page	#002026 Title: Winter troika in Moscow Artist: Strunin Mikhail Size: 15x10x3 Size (inches): 5.75x4x1.25 Price : $275 SOLD!

The artist who composed and painted this winter scene is Mikhail Ivanovich Strunin, chief artist of the Center of Traditional Mstera Miniature.
The box, entitled "Troika" features a troika racing by the Red Square. In the background we can see such famous buildings as the St. Basil's Cathedral, the Belfry of Ivan the Great, the Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral, the Spasskaya Tower, the Great Kremlin Palace, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, etc.
A bold palette filled with bright tones covers the entire area of the composition. The horses are painted in the traditional manner with their body positions turning each way in full stride. The linear movement is very fluid and precise, giving the scene animation and life. Strunin uses gold, with an ultra-thin application, to detail and highlight key areas of the scene, like the domes of the cathedral, the horses, and the characters' costumes. Aluminum paint is used to paint the moon. With a good sense of color placement, linear movement, and compositional balance this piece is a perfect representation of the Russian culture and a relatively new art style that is rooted in ancient technologies.
The scene is framed with a gold line. The edges of the lid are adorned with gold and aluminum beads of different size. The sides of the box are decorated with beautiful gold and aluminum floral patterns.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the piece. The lid is hinged from the top of the composition, and the box rests on four legs. The work is signed with the artist's name, the village of Mstera and the title.