The jewelry box “Children in the Garden” was created by Isaak Fyodorovich Khudoyarov (1807–1879), a Nizhny Tagil master of lacquer painting on metal. This is a vivid example of traditional miniature painting. Isaak Khudoyarov represented the third generation of the Nizhny Tagil dynasty of craftsmen. It was his family that came up with the famous Nizhny Tagil crystal lacquer and passed the secret recipe from one generation to another.
The jewelry box is distinguished by a rich color palette. On the lid, the artist depicted a girl holding a child in her arms against the background of a shaded garden overgrown with trees. The idea might have been inspired by an engraving, but the artist interpreted it in his own way. As an enthusiastic gardener, Isaak Khudoyarov painted the scene with a sophisticated understanding of the color palette.
Children are depicted in harmony with nature. Scenes involving children were a natural choice for the artist Isaak Khudoyarov, given that he had 14 children of his own. In the corner of this composition, the artist added birds perched on a branch. The child touches the blooming flowers of a day lily. The flowers on the walls of the box seem to complement this composition. The artist paid close attention to each bud but instead of isolating them from the background, incorporated them into it.
The girl’s clothing is in harmony with the mother of pearl color of the flowers. She wears a dress of two shades of satin: carmine red and milky white. Isaak Khudoyarov emphasized the texture of the fabric with highlights and strong contrasts between light and shadow. In the figure of the young girl, the artist captured both flexibility and fragility. A slight tilt of her head and a downcast gaze evoke associations with icons of the Virgin Mary.
Isaak Khudoyarov was considered a leading lacquering artist and icon painter of Nizhny Tagil factories. Unlike his ancestors, the artist paid a yearly tax to his masters in exchange for permission to practice his craft.
All the work was performed by Isaak Khudoyarov and his family members in a workshop that was equipped at their house. The artist created complex compositions using the technique of multi-layer oil painting. His works were distinguished by a refined and careful painting technique.
