Show all images on one page	#001125 Title: Mermaid (Undina) Artist: Gurylevs Size: 12x11.5x4 Price : $650 SOLD!

This wonderful box, which is worthy of a museum, has been painted by the talented husband and wife duet of Sergey and Marya Gurilyevy from the village of Palekh. These artists have participated in various art exhibitions and won many honorary rewards. Their works enjoy wide popularity among collectors all over the world.
In the composition the main focus falls upon the Snowmaiden. She is about to melt away forever, and Mizgir at her side cannot bear that he is about to lose his true love. Tsar Berendey, standing to their left, is glad to see this happen as winter has not lifted from his kingdom since the Snowmaiden's arrival. Being the most beautiful young woman in Berendey she caught the attention of everyone and here the people have gathered to celebrate the union of Mizgir and the Snowmaiden.
In the upper left and right corners of the composition the Snowmaiden's parents (Fairy Spring and Father Frost) are depicted. They were not able to take care of their daughter and had to ask Yarilo the Sun god to let her live on earth. Yarilo decided to let her come into the world of the living, but on the condition that she may never feel the warmth of love in her heart. If that power were to be given to her she would melt away like snow in a new spring sun, forever leaving the world. Snegurochka couldn't help falling in love, and the tragic result of it we can see on this composition: she is melting away under the merciless ray of Yarilo.
The palette for this piece contains a wide spectrum of bright and vivid colors. It is very bold and bright. The characters painted in pastel tones stand out against the green, bluish background of a forest landscape. Gold detailing outlines, highlights, and provides light in every element of the composition. Aluminum paint is used to depict the motion of the rushing water. The use of metallic paint is executed with precision and with an unbelievably steady hand that is able to paint with razor like thinness. When the box is slightly tilted the gold paint gives the entire forest a fantastic glow.
The drawing is a rich sea of details. The landscape is formed with accurate brushwork that smoothly depicts trees covered with countless leaves, flowers, birds, plants and the river. Everything is in perfect harmony with each other, from the Snowmaiden to the little birds sitting on the trees.
The characters are also well-drawn, their faces and gestures express different emotions. The detailing of their clothes strikes with its intricacy and neatness. Fairy Spring and Father Frost are painted so skillfully that it's easy to recognize forest spirits in them. Painting Snegurochka, the artist has showed all his talent and skill. Her dress, covered with tiny silver snowflakes, is transparent, and you can see the girl's body through it. The transparency Snegurocka's clothes and body enhances her fragility and creates the effect of gradual melting.
The scene placed on a small platform is framed with gold and silver beads. The edges of the lid are decorated with a classy pattern of golden filigree highlighted with aluminum paint, which runs parallel to another line of gold beading. The sides of the lid are adorned with gold beading, whereas the sides of the box's base are decorated with extremely intricate gold floral patterns with silver blossoms, and with another line of gold beading. Gold beads adorned with gold floral patterns with silver blossoms decorate the small platform on which the box rests.
The box is made of high-quality papier-mache, with a hinge to the top of the lid. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the work while red lacquer completes the interior of the piece. It is signed with the name of the artists and village. Recently done (2003).