Russian Lacquer Box "Summer" by Vera Smirnova

Artist: Vera Smirnova
Dimensions:  4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5" 
Village: Palekh

Summer bursts with abundance and joy in Vera Smirnova’s richly layered interpretation of the season’s peak. A radiant woman draped in flowing robes of coral and seafoam blue stands amid a garden in full bloom, crowned with a bounty of fruit and flowers. In one arm she cradles a bouquet of brilliant sunflowers, while the other reaches upward, as if offering gratitude to the heavens. At her side, a golden-haired child clasps her hand and gazes up in wonder — a tender gesture that suggests the nurturing spirit of the season. The background is alive with lush greenery and stylized clouds, while the golden filigree border adds an ornate frame to this celebration of life’s fullness. Rendered in the traditional Palekh style, this panel radiates warmth, fertility, and the golden generosity of summer.