Show all images on one page	#001917 Title: The Twelve Months Artist: Shirokov Anatoliy Size: 10.5x8x10 Size (inches): 4x3x4 Price : $875 SOLD!

The artist who painted this box is Anatoliy Shirokov of Mstera. His work is easily recognized and can be distinguished for its movement across the surface he paints on and the way he uses his colors no matter if the scheme call for cool or warm tones. He combines the artistic teachings of his mentor Vladimir Shalaev and his pure raw talent to create gems of lacquer art like this.
The theme for this work is the story of the Twelve Months. In this story the cruel stepmother sends her stepdaughter out to fetch some spring forest called "snowdrops". The girl sadly goes to the forest where she comes across the Twelve Months, who one after another change seasons to help her, and she is able to return with the flowers her stepmother demanded.
All five sides of the box show the clue moment of the tale when the Months started to change seasons to help the little girl. The front side features the state of nature when the April hit the ground with his stick. The snow suddenly melted, and the green grass and white snowdrops started covering the ground. The right side shows the state of nature when the June hit the ground with his stick. The sun started to shine brightly, and different berries ripened. On the backside of the box we can see the July and the state of nature during his reign. It's sultry, and everything around is green and bright. On the left side there is the August. The weather has changed again, and now the trees are covered with yellow leaves and ripe apples. The lid's composition features the March seeing off the girl who comes back home with snowdrops and rich presents presented her by twelve months.
Each painting is very colorful and contains Shirokov's distinct miniature painting style, with tremendous life and movement. Good technique, sense of balance, and linear structuring make each scene a feast for the eyes. Not only is the style executed well, but the color combinations that transition from one area to another provides an aesthetic foundation for the box. Gold paint is used in each composition to paint the sky and decorate the costumes of the characters.
The lids composition is framed with gold and aluminum patterns where the artist inserted four additional small miniatures featuring the fir trees, the bon fire, and branches of a tree wrapped in white snow. The box's bottom border is adorned with gold patterns where the artist inserts the names of all months.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while a brilliant red lacquer completes the interior of the box. A hinge is fastened to the top of the composition for ease of opening. The box rests on four round feet. The work is signed, titled and dated by the artist.