Show all images on one page	#002362 Title: The Ensembles of St.Peterbourg Artist: Strunin Mikhail Size: 14.5x10.5x17.5 Size (inches): 5.75x4x6.75 Price : $1450 SOLD!

This large box has four extensive paintings around the body, one rectangular composition on the lid, and a panorama that runs around the curved sides of the lid. The creator of this work is Mikhail Strunin from the village of Mstera. It is called "The Architectural Ensembles of St.-Petersburg", and shows the picturesque views of St.-Petersburg and its suburbs.
The rectangular composition on the lid shows two angels hovering in the sky and holding the coat-of-arms of St.- Petersburg.
The front sloping side of the box's lid features a view of Peterhof, the town situated in 29 km from St.-Petersburg. The ensemble of Peterhof erected in the early 18th century on the bank of Gulf of Finland is an original monument in the honor of victory in the North War and coming of Russia to the Baltic Sea. The idea of creating of the ensemble, the basic planning design, the projects of art decoration belonged to Peter I. In the background the Big Palace is depicted, while in the foreground we can see the fountain "Big Cascade" that represents a unity with the Big Palace. The "Big Cascade" that includes 64 fountains, 255 bronze sculptures, bas-reliefs, and other decorative details is considered to be one the biggest fountain constructions in the world. In the nearest foreground there is the figure of "Samson breaking the jaws of a lion" that stands at the foot of the Cascade.
The right sloping side of the lid shows the Marine Terrace situated in the town of Peterhof. Its rear sloping side depicts the fountain "Neptune" situated in the center of the Upper Garden in Perhof. On the lid's left sloping side there is a view of the town of Gatchina that was the royal residence for several centuries. Here we can see the Bridge situated in the Gatchina's park.
The sides of the box's body present another series of views. The front side shows the Pavlovsky Park situated in the center of St.-Petersburg; the left side features the Big Palace located in the town of Lomonosov; the rear side depicts the Bip Fortress situated in the town of Pavlovsk; and the right side portrays the Alexandrovsky Garden located in the town of Pushkin.
The scenes are painted in the traditional palette for the Mstera branch of lacquer art. Gold and aluminum paints are used to add various details.< br> Each scene is framed with intricate gold ornamentation. The work is signed, and titled on the box's bottom in gold paints.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while a radiant red lacquer completes the interior of the box. The box has a hinge above the scene on the lid and rests on four carved feet.