Show all images on one page	#002561 Title: Ruslan and Lyudmila Artist: Fomichov Lev Alexandrovich(b.1932) Size: 20x20x5 Size (inches): 8x8x2 Price : $990 SOLD!

Lev Fomichov of Mstera is the artist who painted this magnificent piece. He is one of the founders of the modern Mstera lacquer miniature painting style. His works are always recognizable and unique.
The box's theme is based the Pushkin's fairy tale "Ruslan and Lyudmila". The upper part of the composition shows the beginning of the tale: Ruslan accompanied by his rivals: Rogdai, Ratmir and Farlaf, sets out in search of Lyudmila, kidnapped by the wicked wizard Chernomor. To the right from this scene, in the right upper corner we can see Ruslan battling with his jealous rival Rogday. The scene drawn in the center of the composition depicts Ruslan's battle with the Giant Head. The bottom part of the composition features Chernomor dressed like a rich sultan, sitting on the sedan-chair carried by several Arabic warriors. Lyudmila is depicted sitting inside the beautiful Eastern tent. She cries, and averts her face from the cursed, wicked magician.
The composition is painted in various shades of mustard tones with addition of oranges and browns. The entire drawing is very well-drawn. The line movement, compositional structure, and brushwork combine to make this work an aesthetic wonder.
The composition is framed with a gold line, and then framed with original gold filigree patterns. The similar gold patterns accented with green and crimson tempera paints are enlarged and repeated on the sides of the box.
The box is constructed out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on four rounded legs. The artist wrote Mstera, the title, the year of 2006 and his name on the lid's interior in gold paints.