Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Monumental Painting “Prince Yelisey”. Palekh, USSR, 1985. Tempera on canvas (mounted on board). 50 by 40 cm (visible); 71 by 61.5 cm (framed) Condition report: Framed with a mat under glass in a gilded frame. Surface dust. Minor losses to the gilding of the frame. Provenance:  From the family collection of the Golikov dynasty. Created and preserved in the personal archive of Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. Belongs to the mature period and represents one of the artist’s larger easel works on a Pushkin theme. A large-scale easel painting based on Pushkin’s The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights . The central figure - Prince Yelisey on a dynamic red horse - forms the compositional core. The figure is rendered with a sense of motion and expressive energy characteristic of Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. Flanking the hero are symbolic representations of the Sun and the Moon, referencing traditional iconographic imagery and adding a metaphysical dimension to the scene. The composition is set within a stylized landscape featuring decorative hills, architectural elements, and ornamental vegetation. The palette combines vivid reds, greens, and gold tones. Executed in tempera with gold detailing, the painting demonstrates refined linework and layered technique, creating a luminous visual effect. The larger format allows the artist’s miniature-based language to expand into a full-scale pictorial composition. Collecting & Investment Potential: Large-format easel works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are rare on the market. The Pushkin subject and clear compositional structure enhance the work’s appeal for collectors seeking strong, recognizable examples of the artist’s style. A large-scale interpretation of a central literary subject within Golikov’s mature oeuvre.