Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Box “Ruslan Fighting Chernomor”. Palekh, USSR, 1992. Papier-mâché, egg tempera, raised gold, lacquer. 17 by 14 cm. Condition report: Signs of wear; abrasions to the lacquer; losses to the interior of the lid. Provenance: From the personal working archive of the Golikov family. Created and preserved by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. A late work by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, one of the leading masters of the Palekh school, People’s Artist of the RSFSR, and son of Ivan Ivanovich Golikov. The composition is based on Alexander Pushkin’s “Ruslan and Lyudmila” and centres on the battle between Ruslan and Chernomor. The figures are rendered in dynamic interaction, with emphasis on movement and tension. Architectural and landscape elements are integrated into a complex narrative setting. The palette combines насыщенные greens, gold, and ochres against a dark ground. Fine detailing is executed using raised gold and the traditional multi-layered tempera technique. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are held in major museum collections and form part of the established canon of Palekh miniature painting. Pushkin-related subjects occupy a central place in the artist’s oeuvre. Late-period works with complex compositions and rich decorative language continue to attract strong collector interest. A dynamic Pushkin-themed composition by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, executed in the artist’s mature style. Such works are rarely available and are typically secured at the point of first availability.