Lacquer Miniatures Fedoskino (Masterpieces of Russian Folk Art)

Lacquer Miniatures Fedoskino (Masterpieces of Russian Folk Art) by Krestovskaya, N. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9785766410485.

Russian lacquer art developed from the art of icon painting, which came to an end with the collapse of Imperial Russia. The icon painters, who previously had been employed by supplying not only churches but peoples homes, needed a way to make a living. Thus, the craft of making papier-mâché decorative boxes and panels developed, the items were lacquered and then hand painted by the artists, often with scenes from folk tales. The village of Fedoskino, located about 25 miles north of Moscow on the banks of the Ucha River, is the oldest of the four art centers of Russian lacquer miniature painting on papier-mâché, which has been practiced there since 1795. It stands apart both geographically, and in that oil paints are used rather than egg tempera. While allowing the artist a free hand in impressionistic interpretation, the style of Fedoskino painting is largely realistic in composition and detail. This book is part of the “Masterpieces of Russian Folk Art” series.