Bidspirit auction | Sofya Mikhailovna Golikova (1928–2019)

Sofya Mikhailovna Golikova (1928–2019) - Plaque “Ratmir and the Twelve Maidens”. Palekh, USSR, 1988-1999. Papier-mâché, egg tempera, gold highlights, lacquer. 30 by 24 cm. Condition report: Well preserved. Minor traces of age, localized surface wear, and natural lacquer irregularities consistent with the age of the work. The painting and gilded ornamentation remain in very good condition. Provenance From the Golikov family collection (Palekh). Created and preserved in the artist's personal archive. This monumental panel was created by Sofya Mikhailovna Golikova (1928–2019), a distinguished representative of the renowned Golikov artistic dynasty of Palekh. The composition is inspired by Alexander Pushkin's epic poem Ruslan and Lyudmila, illustrating the episode of Ratmir, one of the knights who sets out in search of the abducted Lyudmila. In Golikova's interpretation, the literary narrative is transformed into a lyrical vision filled with decorative richness, rhythmic harmony, and the enchanting atmosphere characteristic of Palekh art. At the centre of the composition, Ratmir rides a white horse toward a fantastical palace where he is welcomed by twelve maidens. Elegant architecture, graceful female figures, musicians, peacocks, and luxuriant ornamental vegetation combine to create a richly imagined ceremonial world. Space is treated symbolically rather than naturalistically, recalling the visual language of illuminated manuscripts and medieval decorative painting - an essential characteristic of the Palekh tradition. The deep black lacquer ground intensifies the brilliance of the tempera colours and the delicate raised gold decoration, while the flowing rhythms of the figures and ornamental details unify the composition into a harmonious whole. The panel exemplifies the mature artistic language of Sofya Golikova, combining the visual heritage of medieval Russian painting with the refined elegance and imaginative richness of twentieth-century Palekh lacquer miniature. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Sofya Mikhailovna Golikova appear only infrequently on the art market and are highly valued as part of the artistic legacy of the distinguished Golikov family of Palekh. The present panel is particularly significant for its large format, its ambitious multi-figure composition, its literary subject drawn from one of the masterpieces of Russian literature, and its direct provenance from the Golikov family collection. Ratmir and the Twelve Maidens is an outstanding example of late Palekh lacquer painting, uniting literary imagination, exceptional decorative refinement, and the enduring artistic traditions of one of Palekh's most celebrated artistic dynasties.