Russian Beauty

The pose repeats — one hand at the hip, the other loose — but the colour is held back. A grey-blue sarafan is scattered with small peach flower sprigs, the bodice gathered in fine vertical pleats. Full peach sleeves narrow into tight cuffs at the wrist. Two large tassels hang from twisted sash cords matched to the skirt, and three strands of beads close the neckline. Wide areas of plain porcelain are left between the painted sprays.