Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Monumental Painting “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. Palekh, Russia, 1993. Tempera on canvas (mounted on board). 45 by 60 cm (visible); 50 by 65 cm (framed) Condition report: In a wooden frame. Stains along the edges of the painted surface. Owner’s labels on the frame (front and reverse). Inventory markings and stains on the stretcher. Canvas partially detached from the frame. Provenance: From the family collection of the Golikov dynasty. Created and preserved in the personal archive of Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. The work belongs to the artist’s late period and represents one of his most complete interpretations of the Pushkin cycle. A large-scale easel painting in which Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov develops the theme of Pushkin’s Ruslan and Lyudmila into a complex multi-scene composition. The central group - Ruslan and Lyudmila on a dynamic red horse - forms the compositional core. Around them unfold key narrative episodes, including encounters, battle scenes, and figures such as Chernomor, integrated into a cohesive decorative landscape. The composition follows a panoramic structure typical of the Palekh tradition, where multiple scenes are unified through rhythm, line, and color. The palette combines vivid reds, greens, and ochres against a structured background. Stylized landscape elements and architectural motifs create a unified decorative environment. Executed in tempera with gold detailing, the work demonstrates refined linework and layered painting techniques, translating the language of miniature painting into a monumental format. Collecting & Investment Potential Large-scale canvas works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are rare and seldom appear on the market. The Pushkin subject, combined with the late period and monumental format, enhances the work’s appeal for advanced collectors and institutional collections. A rare large-format interpretation of a central literary theme within Golikov’s mature oeuvre.