Frog Princess

This interesting composition has been painted by the talented Mstera artist Frolov Alexander. An Artist does a wonderful job in coordinating very bright colors in small areas to burst with life and animation.
The composition shows a scene from the popular Russian fairy-tale "Princess Frog". A powerful Tsar noticed that it was time for his three sons to be wed. He summoned them all at once and told them to each fire a single arrow into the air. The closest maiden to each fallen arrow would become that son's wife. Ivan and his two brothers shoot arrows into the air to find their future brides. A frog catches Ivan's arrow (on the left of the composition) and this is who he is obligated to marry.
The composition is painted in the traditional Mstera style. The artist did a wonderful job in the development of texture. The leaves of the trees twinkle like the coins in a treasure chest. The characters clothes have been highlighted in this manner as well. The greens, deep blues, oranges and reds give off new radiance because of these highlights. As a genre scene, this Russian lacquer miniature couldn't be more appealing! 
Golden line is framed the painting, an elegant ornament of gold filigree going around the composition. The sides of the box are adorned with golden ornamentation as well. The box is constructed from papier-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior. The lid is hinged at the top of the composition and the box sits flat. The box is signed with the artist's name, village and title.
Frolov Alexander Alexeevich (born in 1935).
Born in the village of Zimnitsy, Vladimir Region.
Alexander has finished the Mstera Art School in 1958.
Member of the USSR Union of Artists since 1976.