The Unequal Marriage

This box represents a copy of very popular Russian painting called "The Unequal Marriage". "The Unequal Marriage" was painted in 1862 by talented Russian Artist Vasily Pukirev (1832-1890). Now this oil on Canvas exhibits in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Vasily Pukirev (1832-1890) was a Russian painter and illustrator, who's works often were meant to express social concern for the reform.
He studied at the School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Moscow. In the beginning he has worked as a portrait painter but later turned to historical painting. He is best known for his painting "The Unequal Marriage" which depicts the wedding ceremony of an elderly, high-ranking official and a young, visibly unhappy girl. This was one of the celebrated denunciatory pictures of the 1860s, revealing the unequal position of women and the corruption of bureaucracy. This critical mode, reflecting the general striving for reform in Russia after the emancipation of the serfs in 1861, was intended to arouse the dormant social conscience and change society. His other well-known works include Collection of Arrears (1869) and Damaged Field (1870).
The box is painted by talented Fedoskino artist Baulina Kseniya.
Quality of the painting is very high, faces are outstanding!
The painting takes up the entire lid of this oval piece and has a golden border. The lid is hinged to the left of the picture and the box rests flat. The box's sides are decorated with two gold parallel lines.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box.
The artist has signed and dated.