Zhostovo tray: history and ways of making. Zhostovo painting on trays

Bright, magnificent flowers: roses, peonies, chamomiles, forget-me-nots, chrysanthemums and lilies of the valley (it is impossible to list them all) skillfully scattered by the skillful hand of the artist on a dark glossy metal surface is a traditional Zhostovo painting on trays. Unique folk art of Russia, which has no analogues!

The history of the ancient Russian fishery has been around for almost 2 centuries, and during this time the products of the Zhostovo masters not only lost their popularity and beauty, but, on the contrary, they became even more famous all over the world and enriched with the innovative ideas of the current young painters.

The origin of the Zhostovo crafts

Today, any modern hostess will be happy to receive a real Zhostovo tray as a gift, which can be used not only for direct utilitarian purposes, but also as an original decoration of the kitchen interior. Similarly, women were happy at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when they were given such beauty.

But it was not always so. The art of the Zhostovo painting began to form in Russia at the end of the 18th century. It was at that time that the first trays, caskets, snuff-boxes, cigarette cases, all kinds of boxes, etc., painted in the technique of lacquer miniatures, were made in the villages of the Moscow district: Ostashkovo, Troitskoe, Novosiltsevo, Sorokino and Zhostovo.

Gradually, the production of trays was separated into a separate channel, and the village of Zhostovo firmly occupied the leading role in their production. By the way, the first trays were made exclusively of papier-mache. Now it is difficult for us to imagine a Zhostovo tray made of such material.

Further development of Zhostov's art

In 1825, the workshop of Osip Filipovich Vishnyakov was opened in Zhostovo. It is from this event that the chronology of the existence of individual folk handicraft trades is being conducted. Of course, this workshop was not the only one. Gradually organized and other artels: Yegor Vishnyakova in the neighboring village of Ostashkovo, AA Zaitseva in the Troitsk village. The popularity of their products was huge! Perfectly sold Zhostovo tray in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities.

In 1830 several workshops were opened in Zhostovo and neighboring villages, the founders of which were EF Belyaev, TM Belyaev, FV Shapkin, VL Leontiev and IS Kolomenskaya. Gradually, the production expanded, the products under the painting began to be made not from papier-mache, but from more durable and modern material - iron.

Legendary artists Zhostova

Gradually, a new, us customary Zhostovo tray was born. The history preserved in the marginal annals tells how gradually more and more local talented peasants were involved in the work of art workshops. It's amazing how many talents turned out to be among ordinary, uneducated serfs. The first master, mentioned in the historical document of 1839, was the serf Sheremetyev-Veshnyakov Philip Nikitin, he was engaged in painting trays with his son. Thus, artistic dynasties were born in Zhostovo.

The most famous masters of Zhostovo trays: O.E. Burbyshev (about this artist in Zhostov, there are legends, so much was a virtuoso master), N. M. Tsaplagin, A.E. Vishnyakov, K. V. Gribkov, I. S. Leontiev , DS Kledov, PS Kurzin, IA Saveliev, MR Mitrofanov, AP Gogin, IP Plakhov, BV Grafov. All these masters and many others left a deep mark in the art of Zhostov, they created wonderful works of Zhostovo miniature, included in the gold fund of crafts.

Zhostovo tray - manufacturing technology

The original technology of production of Zhostovo trays was polished for many years. The masters have many secrets of craft, which they are not going to share with anyone. So you can tell about the technology of manufacturing Zhostov products only in general terms.

As already mentioned above, modern trays are made of iron. They can have the most bizarre shape, everything depends on the artist's original intention. Before painting, the tray must be carefully ground and covered with a double layer of soil, prepared on the basis of soot and kaolin. After that the workpiece is again ground and covered with several layers of colored varnish. Each layer must be well dried and ideally polished.

Further, the production of Zhostovo trays passes to the next stage. After all the preparatory work, the product is ready for painting, and the master artist starts to work on it further. Painting Zhostovo trays is traditionally produced by oil paints. After its completion, the product is again covered in several layers with a varnish, followed by drying and polishing to give the finished tray an almost specular luster.

Artistic techniques and features of Zhostovo painting

The artistic methods of the Zhostovo painting originate from the traditional Russian lacquer miniature, but, of course, they have their own peculiarities. The basis can perhaps be called a drawing with bright colors on a dark background and decoration of the composition with gold ornaments. The background of Zhostovo trays is not necessarily black, it can be any color: red, brown, green, blue and ocherous. Sometimes there are even compositions made on potali (imitation of gold), mother-of-pearl or light, almost white background, but this is rather a deviation from the rules dictated by the imagination of the artist.

Zhestova tray is usually painted in such a way that the center of the composition (flower bouquet) contains the largest and brightest flowers, to which the main accent is directed. Closer to the edges of the bouquet elements are getting smaller and darker, they seem to merge with the background. Thus, the visual depth and volume of the painting is achieved. Zhostovo flowers are not written from nature, most often they are arbitrary, much in their image depends on the creative imagination of the master.

Main Motives and Stories

The main motifs of Zhostovo painting are, of course, all sorts of floral motifs, the variety of which is not the number! Zhostovo painting adheres to several traditional types of composition. Flowers can be collected in large bouquets, consisting of 3-5 inflorescences, depicted in baskets or be located garlands around the perimeter of the tray.

Sometimes the painting can be supplemented with images of berries, fruits or birds. There are examples of Zhostovo painting, similar to the ancient precious Dutch still lifes. Despite the fact that the pattern of plants is rather conditional, there are all the signs of easel painting: careful study of details, general coloring, free improvisation.

Zhostovo trays: how to draw in stages

The entire process of painting the tray can be divided into 4 stages. First, the so-called "painting" is done: on the product, a generalized silhouette of the future drawing, the location of the main spots, appears as if sprinkled with bleached paints.

Next come "shadow" and "gasket": applying transparent shadows and marking with dense paints of the brightest places. After that, the shape of the flowers and leaves becomes more specific.

The third stage - glare: applying a quick whitening smears. With their help, all volumes are specified.

Finally, the final 4-th stage is followed by the "drawing" and "snapping". With the help of the thinnest brush, the master flexes with elastic flexible lines the outline of each leaf and petal, draws small twigs and details, which are called snapping.

Prospects for the development of fisheries

Currently, artistic Zhostovo crafts are going through hard times. Until the 1990s, the workshops were under the tutelage and financing of the state, after the perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the factory moved into private hands. Now the focus was on profit, but not the preservation of traditions and the creative approach to craft.

The number of artists at the enterprise was significantly reduced. Many masters began to work independently, at home. Many private orders are being carried out, imprisoned not only under the Zhostovo tray. Modern masters often work on painting a variety of subjects: from refrigerators and mobile phones to bottles with expensive collection wine. The influx of talented young people - graduates of the Fedoskino School of Lacquer Miniature - has recently declined. But nevertheless, the enterprise still lives, works with self-sacrifice and faith in the future.

How to get to Zhostovo?

For all those who wish to get acquainted with the history and art of Zhostov, the enterprise organizes interesting 5-hour excursions with the holding of master classes. When the factory is constantly working shop, where you can buy products of crafts, as they say "from the heat, with heat."

It is easy to get from Moscow to Zhostov. It is necessary to overcome only 50 km along Ostashkovsky highway towards Mytishchi district. You can also easily go there by train or bus. Another option: from the metro Medvedkovo to Zhostovo, there is a regular bus number 438.