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Russian lacquer art developed from the art oficon painting, which came to an end with the collapse ofImperial Russia. The icon painters, who previously had been employed by supplying not only churches but people's homes, needed a way to make a living. Thus, the craft of makingpapier-mâché decorative boxes and panels developed, the items werelacquered and then hand painted by the artists, often with scenes from folk tales.
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The village ofFedoskino (Федоскино), located not far fromMoscow on the banks of theUcha River, is the oldest of the four art centers of Russian lacquer miniature painting onpapier-mâché, which has been practiced there since 1795. It stands apart both geographically, and in that oil paints are used rather thanegg tempera. While allowing the artist a free hand inimpressionistic interpretation, the style of Fedoskino painting is largely realistic in composition and detail.
The other three Russian lacquer art centers are:
The lacquer artists of Palekh, Kholuy and Mstyora continue to use the technique of painting in egg-based tempera overlaid with intricate gold leaf highlighting.
All three are situated in the formerVladimir-Suzdal Principality, Ivanovo region of centralRussia, and are deeply rooted in the 17th-19th centuryicon painting tradition, which lasted until theRussian Revolution of 1917, and is now being revived by young artists of the 21st century.
