Panorama of Moscow

This very detailed box was painted by a well-known artist Mikhail Strunin from the village of Mstera. The scene depicted on this box is a copy of an old painting drawn in the 18th century. Painted in delicate gray, brown and yellow tones this scene opens up a grandiose panorama of the ancient Moscow Kremlin. White-stone cathedrals and splendid palaces rise behind the strong fortifications, the burnished gold onion domes glisten on the sun, and the town people are occupied with their daily routine.
The box's exterior is decorated with luxuriant ornaments painted in gold and silver tempera paints.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on wavy legs. The work is signed with the artist's name, Mstera, and the title ("The Panorama of Moscow").