Show all images on one page	#005977 Title: St.Basil's (Pokrovskiy) Cathedral Artist: Strunin Mikhail Size: 19.5x14.5x7.5 Size (inches): 7.75x5.75x3 Price : $750 SOLD!

This rectangular box was painted by talented artist Mikhail Strunin from the village of Mstera. The scene depicted on this box is an interpretation of an old painting drawn in the 17th century and shown World known symbol of Moscow called St.Basil's Cathderal or Pokrovskiy Cathedral. This gem of ancient Russian architecture was built by order of Ivan the Terrible in 1561 to commemorate to the victory over Kazan and Astrakhan Khanate. According to the legend Ivan the Terrible ordered to blind the architects who designed this magnificent building so they could never construct such a masterpiece again. The second name of this magnificent building is "Pokrovsky Cathedral". Painted in delicate gray, brown and yellow tones this scene opens up a beautiful view of it.
The box's exterior is decorated with luxuriant ornaments painted in gold, silver, and orange, brown and grey tempera paints. These ornaments consist of whimsical scrolls, flowers, and completed with the other main Moscow Cathdrals. Besides these complex ornaments the exterior is also decorated with common gold filigree patterns. The box has four additional compositions of the Cathdrals painted on all box's sides.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on four legs. The work is signed with the artist's name, Mstera, and the title ("St.Basil's Cathedral. 16th century").