Show all images on one page	#002375 Title: Duke Igor's Escape from Captivity Artist: Fomichov Lev Alexandrovich(b.1932) Size: 20.5x12.5x4.5 Size (inches): 8x5x1.75 Price : $850 SOLD!

The style and quality of Mstera master Lev Fomichyov is immediately recognizable. Each piece seems an epic work, and the results of his expert hand is felt at first sight. Being one of the most decorated and renowned Mstera miniaturists he has already left a brilliant legacy that can be enjoyed not only in books and museums, but in collections around the world.
The work is called "Prince's Igor's Escape from the Captivity", and features the moment from the Russian ancient chronicle "The Lay of the Host of Igor".
Prince Igor is himself a well-known historical personality. A prince of Novgorod-Seversk, he was the grandson of the famous Oleg of Chernigov and the cousin of Grand Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev. Igor was an active participant in the internecine wars of his time.
In 1185 Igor and his brother Vsevolod undertook a campaign against the Polovetsians. This undertaking was a failure. On May 1, 1185, there was an eclipse of the sun. Although the Russians interpreted this phenomenon as an evil omen, Igor insisted that the campaign continue. In the first battle, on Friday, May 10, 1185, the Russians were victorious over what was apparently merely a rather small scouting detachment of Polovetsians. Igor now urged retreat. He may well have sensed the impending disaster. But his nephew Svyatoslav (who was only nineteen) objected, noting that his men were tired and that if the main body of Russians were to retreat, some of his men would be left behind on the road. Igor's brother, "Wild Ox" Vsevolod, sided with Svyatoslav, and the Russians pitched camp for the night.
Prince Igor's estimate of the situation had been correct. The following morning, Saturday, Polovetsian troops "began to appear like a forest." Some argued for retreat, but now Igor insisted that they stand their ground, saying: "If we flee we shall ourselves escape, but we will leave the black people [the common foot soldiers]. That will be a sin against us from God, having betrayed them. Let us go: we shall either die or be alive in one place." So the princes and voivodes (officers) dismounted and went into battle against the Polovetsians.
The Polovetsians defeated the Russians, taking many prisoners, including Igor, Vsevolod, and Igor's son Vladimir. According to the Chronicle Prince Igor, early in his captivity, became deeply troubled by feelings of guilt. Igor felt that it would be dishonorable for him to try to escape. But his Igor's counselors, feeling that the Polovetsians might kill the prisoners, especially the princes and voivodes, advised him to escape. Fortunately for Igor, a Polovetsian named Ovlur offered to help Igor to escape. One evening when Igor's guards were drinking koumiss (fermented mare's milk), the prince stole from his tent to meet Lavor, who had two horses ready on "the other side of the Tor River," and made his escape. Crossing the Donets River, the two men arrived at the town of Donets. Igor then went to Kiev, where he was greeted with great joy by the two grand princes, Svyatoslav and Ryurik.
The box is constructed out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The box's exterior is decorated with traditional Fomichyov's gold ornamentation. Gold paint is also used to add various details throughout the scene. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on four legs. The artist wrote Mstera, 2006, the title, and his name at the bottom of the composition in gold paints.