Скульптурная композиция «Зимняя тройка», Василий Грачев

A bronze genre sculptural composition depicting a winter troika of horses in rapid motion, with figures of a coachman and passengers seated in a sleigh. The surface is covered with an even dark brown patina showing natural signs of age. The base bears an engraved author’s signature in Cyrillic, “I. P. Grachev.” The sculpture is mounted on an integral oval base. Grachev Vasily Yakovlevich (1831-1905) Russian sculptor of the period of the Russian Empire. He came from a family of state peasants. He worked as a model maker (made wax models) at the famous jewelry factories (firms) of F.A. Verkhovtsev, P.A. Ovchinnikov, V.I. Safronov, A.V. A. Smirnov, I.S. Sazikov, I.P. Khlebnikov, as well as at the artistic bronze factory of K.F. Verfel. Many of his works, translated into silver and bronze, are known under the brand names of these manufacturers. His works were repeatedly awarded at art and industrial exhibitions. Having opened his own workshop-studio (1885), he performed at the exhibition with independent works and received a silver medal from the city of St. Petersburg for the sculptural composition "At the watering hole". He is known as the author of numerous models of fine arts and applied arts, which were cast in bronze, less often in silver and cast iron.