Show all images on one page	#004900 Title: Christening of Russia Artist: Kurilov Vladimir Size: 31x26.5x7 Size (inches): 12.25x10.5x2.75 Price : $2850 SOLD!

This historical scene was painted by Palekh artist Vladimir Kurilov, born in 1957 in the town of Kineshma in the Ivanovo region. It depicts a very important moment in the history of Russia-the christening of pagan Rus (Russia). In 988 ancient Rus (Russia) was christened by the Prince Vladimir, who also was christened the same year. Vladimir gathered all citizens of Kiev on the bank of the Dnepr River in the waters of which Byzantine priests were christening people. The way to the orthodoxy was paved by the Princess Olga (the grandmother of Vladimir), who was christened in 955 in the town of Constantinople. On the top we can see the figure of Andrey Pervozvany, the first Byzantine priest who was sent to christen Russia but was tragically killed.
The palette is based in oranges, greens and browns that dominate the scene. These three colors work especially well and deliver to the viewer a great amount of life and light. The scene is finely highlighted and detailed with aluminum and gold.
Each person in the composition is painted painstakingly and has highly developed lines and emotive qualities. All of the faces are quite detailed, showing clear facial expressions.
Gold and aluminum beading frames the composition, while the sides of the box are decorated with gold and aluminum flower and leaf pattern ornaments.
The box is made out of paper-mache made in Palekh. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The box has a hinge from the top of the composition and rests on four rounded feet. At the bottom of the composition the artist writes Palekh, 2004, and signs his name.