Eggs

The history of Easter eggs dates back to the early days of Christianity, when Mary Magdalene gave the Roman emperor Tuberous an egg as an Easter present. The time passed, and the desire to make Easter presents more long lasting brought an egg-producing industry into life. Wooden eggs were turned and then painted with Bible scenes by skillful masters. The artists of Moscow armory produced pieces of art that remained up to our days as examples of fine egg painting.The famous masters of Russian lacquer didn't miss this chance to show their skill. Some of them painted porcelain eggs for the Russian Royal family, and some decorated papier-mache eggs produced in their village. Traditionally, the price paid for egg painting was very high, for it was considered a kind of Easter present to the artist.Keeping to the old traditions, modern artists paint wooden eggs with Bible scenes or scrollwork. They also depict churches and convents, scenes from folktales and legends. They practice the technique of Russian lacquer that dates back to the XIX century, but the variety of depictions is really surprising. All the periods of Russian egg-painting art is reflected in the works of Russian painters.