Show all images on one page	#003780 Title: Tale of Prince Ivan and the Grey Wolf Artist: Bakhilin Konstantin Size: 6.5x8.5x3.5 Size (inches): 2.25x3.25x1.25 Price : $425 SOLD!

Konstantin Bakhilin of Mstera is the artist who painted this box with a scene from, "The Tale of Prince Ivan and the Grey Wolf." At this point in the story Prince Ivan has rescued the Princess, captured the Firebird, and is riding back on the Horse with the Golden Mane to his father's, the Tsar's, castle to be betrayed by his brothers. They will kill him and take credit for his achievements. Not until the Grey Wolf saved him with the water of death and the water of life, would he be able to avenge his own death and reclaim the hand of his princess Elena the Fair.
Egg-tempera paint is the medium used to paint the composition on this box. The scene is set against an olive background and is painted using a simple palette. The horse, on which the princess and the prince are riding, is the primary subject and is really the only part of the composition painted with bright colors. The artist uses gold paint to depict the Firebird, to decorate the horse, and outline the architecture in the background. Part of the architecture includes churches on which the artist beads the gold paint into the cupolas, making them look three-dimensional.
The box is constructed out of paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the outside and red lacquer is used to paint the inside of the box. The artist uses gold and aluminum paints to decorate the box with scrollwork. The scrollwork is intricate and complex requiring a steady hand and great artistic talent. The box is not hinged and rests on a flat bottom. Upon completing the work on this piece the artist writes the title, Mstera, 2004, and signs his name on the bottom of the box.