Differences among the school themes

We are glad to introduce to you the catalogue of the Russian masterpiece. We are proud to present unique information about lacquer art from the four centers of lacquer miniature painu to find the guidelines in the amazing world of the Russian folk artting. You'll also find here detailed information about each of the villages and about many of the artists, a history of lacquer miniature painting and other themes of this unique part of Russian culture. We hope this catalogue will help you.

Lacquer miniature, being a national craft of Russia, belongs to the culture of the world at large. The Russian artists, creatively developing from East and West-European lacquer art have enriched its heritage by unique national experience and expanded the frameworks of the figurative world of lacquer painting. While this direction in Europe and in the East has died away, in Russia it has received a new impulse and attained new success. Fedoskino, Palekh, Mstera and Kholui are today known to connoisseurs the world over for their inimitable lacquer miniatures. Deeply rooted in history, this art form, along with traditional folk art, icon painting, and the secular paintings of the mid XVII to late XIX centuries, is among the most splendid and distinctive of Russia's artistic achievements.

The boxes feature intricately hand-drawn miniature paintings based on a variety of themes, including fairy tales, poems, country life, troikas, landscapes, battle scenes, and old art masterpieces. They get their name from the many layers of lacquer (most often, black and red) that are applied to both their outside and inside sections. Coats of clear lacquer are the last layers to be put on and provide a stunning shine to the box.

The boxes, which vary in size, are extremely well crafted. It can take as long as two months to make a box out of papier-mâché, a material many artists prefer because of its ability to withstand changes in atmospheric conditions and to avoid cracking.

It is the miniature paintings that bring real value to the boxes. Lacquer artists have to excel artistically. At the same time they have to be patient enough to spend a long time working on many small intricate sections of their composition.

The boxes of the highest demand come from one of four small Russian villages – Fedoskino, Palekh, Mstera and Kholui. Special schools have been established at these places where artists trained for four years before they became members of each village's art community. These four villages make up highly knit family, influencing and enriching each other, with each one having it’s own individual character.

Differences among the school themes

Artists from Fedoskino, which is deemed to be the birthplace of Russian lacquer miniatures, use as more realistic style of painting as compared to what they do in other villages. They also use oil paints for their drawings instead of the egg-based temperas. Three to four layers of the oil paint, along with seven coats of lacquer, are applied to each box before it is completed. This layering brings out a radiant quality in the drawings and the colors seem to emanate from within. Sometimes, an underlay of gold leaf or mother of pearl enhances this radiance and adds a lovely iridescence of its own.

Boxes from Palekh might well enjoy the highest worldwide acclaim. The lacquer art of Palekh has been called "a small miracle", a label particularly fitting since the village specialized in icon-painting for centuries until the 1917 Russian revolution. Most often in Palekh works, innumerable fine lines of gold leaf polished to a glow with a wolf's tooth, are applied to the drawing and ornamental border. A simple one-color background then provides a beautiful contrast to the gold leaf and scene itself. This background, usually black, also serves to take the observer into a new world where one's concept of time and space is left to the imagination.

The village of Kholui began painting lacquer miniatures in the 1930's, later than Palekh and much later than Fedoskino, where this art began in the 18th century. It is this late start that possibly made Kholui artists less bound to any traditions, or any particular style. These craftsmen seem to take more broad-minded approach to their works. Backgrounds for Kholui works are occasionally one solid color (like Palekh), but more often the artist fills this area with swirls of tone and shade. Partly for this reason, Kholui works appear brighter than Palekh boxes and seem to fill more space.

Boxes from Mstera usually have the lightest colors. These artists use black color for backgrounds quite reluctantly. They tend to turn to light blue, pink, gold or ivory. With these colors landscapes generally would play a more prominent role in Mstera works. People and objects can be found within the background setting rather than away from it. In Mstera, you can see a wide range of artistic talent. While some artists paint dynamic and elaborate scenes from fairy tales or famous battles, others concentrate on exquisite floral designs.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 641