Show all images on one page	#002707 Title: Ancient Moscow Artist: Strunin Mikhail Size: 17x12.5x13.5 Size (inches): 6.75x5x5.25 Price : $1250 SOLD!

This large box has four extensive paintings around the body, one rectangular composition on the lid. The creator of this magnificent work is Mikhail Strunin from the village of Mstera. It is another piece from his series of works dedicated to Old Moscow. Working on it, Strunin used the old paintings drawn in the 17th century. So, looking at it, the viewer has a splendid opportunity to imagine how ancient Moscow looked like.
The rectangular composition on the lid shows the copy of old painting painted in 1834. Here we can see how Moscow looked like in the reign of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. At the bottom of the composition the artist wrote his name, the village of Mstera, and the title ("The View of Moscow in the reign of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. 1834").
The front side of the box's body depicts the view of the Moscow Kremlin and the Stone Bridge in 1815. At the bottom Strunin wrote the title of this scene.
On the right side the artist depicted the Annunciation and the Archangel Cathedrals located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. Underneath Strunin again wrote the title of this scene and the year when its original was painted, - 1850.
On the left side we can see Boyarskaya Square located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. Beneath this scene there is its title and the year when its original was painted, - 1840.
On the rear side we can see the Saint Bridge and the view of Moscow Kremlin in the end of 17th century. At the bottom of this scene Strunin again wrote its title.
To paint this box the artist used blue, green, brown, red, and yellow-orange tones that are traditional for the Mstera Art School palette. Gold paint used to detail only the scene painted on the box's lid. Each scene is outlined with gold, and then framed with intricate gold and aluminum ornaments.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The lid is hinged at the top, and the box rests on four legs.