Show all images on one page	#003676 Title: Exodus of the Jews from an Egypt Artist: Gaun Alexander Size: 24x18x4 Size (inches): 9.5x7x1.5 Price : $850 SOLD!

This magnificent box has been painted by Alexander Gaun from the village of Mstera. Here the artist has chosen to depict an episode from the Moses's second book called "The Book of Exodus". This book describes the miraculous exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Many years have passed since the time when Jacob' son Joseph found himself in Egypt because of his brothers' treachery. Miraculously he became the Pharaoh's helper and the most respected man in Egypt. But as stated above many years have passed since that time. The Jews settled in Egypt and generated a numerous population. When the new Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph came to the throne, the Jews became the slaves of the Egyptians. They worked hard without a break, and had no any civil rights. Once the Jew whose name was Moses heard the God's voice: "I know everything about sufferings of the Jews, and I want to help them. You, Moses will save the Jews from slavery. You will be the man who will be able to lead out the Jews from Egypt. Go to the Pharaoh and ask him to permit the Jews to go to a desert for praying". Moses did everything what the God ordered him, but the Pharaoh suspected that the Jews could escape from his kingdom and refused to fulfill this request. Then the God punished the Egyptian kingdom by setting big toads on its citizens. Later every time the Pharaoh refused to let the Jews go to the desert for praying, the God punished the Egyptians. At last the Pharaoh agreed to fulfill Moses's request, but again he suspected the Jews of committing an escape. So, he ordered his people to spy upon the Jews. When his people reported that the Jews really tried to escape by crossing the sea, the Pharaoh ordered his warriors to catch the fugitives. When the Jews started crossing the sea, the seawaters opened out before them letting people to cross the sea on food. While crossing the sea the Jews were covered with the white cloud that showed them the right way, and their pursuers were covered with the black cloud that complicated their movement. A little later the God returned the seawaters in their natural position in the place where the Egyptians were at that moment and they all drowned, while the Jews were let to continue crossing the sea. So, in this composition we can see the Jews crossing the sea on foot, while the Egyptians are drowning. The Jews are carrying their relic - Joseph's remains.
The coloring of the composition is typical for Gaun's painting style. It is based on harmonious combinations of three main colors: brown, red and yellow. Gold metal leaf is used to detail the halos of angels, the mail of warriors, the relic that the Jews are carrying and the tents in the background.
The composition is framed with two parallel gold lines, while the box's sides are decorated with beautiful gold and aluminum floral ornamentation. 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 located from the top of the composition and rests on four legs. The work is signed with the artist's name, the title, the village at the bottom of the composition.