Show all images on one page	#004187 Title: The Great Prince of the Moscow Principality and the Whole Russia, Ivan III Artist: Molodkin Nikolay Size: 24x18x4 Size (inches): 9.5x7.5x1.5 Price : $1850 SOLD!

This work is painted by the youngest of Molodkin brothers, Nikolay Molodkin. Like his father and brothers he continues to glorify the art of Mstera lacquered miniature.
The box shows the Great Prince of the Moscow Principality and the Whole Rus, Ivan III, tearing the Khan document before the Tatars. Ivan III is known as a tsar who managed to overthrow completely the Tatar Mongolian Yoke that have been oppressing Russian land for two hundred and thirty seven years. He also strengthened the authority of the Moscow Principality. Married to the Greek Princess Sophya Paleolog he was the first tsar who instituted the ceremony of tsar's coronation. He considered himself as a heir of Byzantine emperors and that is why he instituted the Byzantine coat-of-arms, the double-headed eagle, as the coat-of-arms of Russia.
The palette is based on a beautiful contrast of orange-yellow and blue tones. The painting style bears a resemblance to the unique painting style of his father, Vladimir Molodkin. The brushwork is exquisite, and enhanced by the bright gold detailing.
The composition is outlined with gold, and framed with a gold foliage pattern. The similar gold pattern only larger in size can be found wrapping around the box's sides.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the work while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. The lid is hinged from the top of the composition, and the box rests on four rounded legs. On the box's interior bottom the artist has drawn a scroll of paper, and written the title, Mstera, his name and the year of 2008 on it.