Show all images on one page	#008562 Title: Scarlet Flower/Beauty and the Beast Artist: Nikolaev Alexander Size: 18x12.5x4 Size (inches): 7x5x1.5 Price : $495 SOLD!

This sentimental beauty was painted to please. The sentiment within is dramatic, this artistry exudes love and the romantic intention associated with it. Alexander Nikolaev, from the village of Palekh, is the talented artist responsible for this breathtaking composition. The theme is the classic tale "Beauty and the Beast" (it is the Russian version of "Scarlet Flower" you can read on our website).
This tale tells about a beautiful girl who loves a horrible beast with all her heart for his kindness and devotion. In the end of this tale the beast turns into a handsome Prince and marries his sweetheart.
Here the artist depicts several scenes from this tale. Composition is devided vertically into three scenes. On the left scene we can see the ships ready to start the jorney. Before his departure, a merchant asks his daughters what presents they would be pleased to have. The elder daughters ask his father to bring fashionable attire and jewelry, whereas the youngest daughter orders only a flower. The central part shows the moment when the merchant picks a beautiful flower for his daughter. He doesn't know that it is the favorite flower of a horrible beast who is the ruler of the land where the merchant was on a visit. So, he becomes the beast's prisoner, but his beloved youngest daughter decides to take his place. The right upper corner shows the dying beast on his island.
The composition is very bright and festive. Soothing greens, passionate reds, cool blues and a refreshing purple tone take up the majority of the sketching. The characters clothes are thoroughly contoured with bright gold and aluminum paint. This builds radiance and texture, both at the same time. The framing for the lid's artistry is very attractive.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. Elegant gold and silver ornamentation decorates the sides of the box. The box has a hinge from the top of the composition and rests on a flat bottom. The is signed with the artist's name, village and year (2001).