The miniaturist and teacher Lev Alexandrovich Fomichov (1932–2018) was born in Mstyora to a family of icon painters. At the age of 12, he began studying the art of lacquer miniature painting in the artel “Proletarian Art”. He was trained by an experienced master Fyodor Grigoryevich Shilov.

Lev Fomichov was one of the brightest and most talented representatives of the Mstyora school of lacquer painting. His style was developed based on the centuries-old traditions of ancient Russian art and Mstyora miniature. Many of his compositions are dedicated to the most important historical events and cultural images of Russia, for example, the boxes “The Battle of Kulikovo”, “Prince Igor”, “Polovtsian Dances”, “The Holiday of Seeing off the Russian Winter in Suzdal”. The artist also created works inspired by the plots of epic poems, Russian folk songs and fairy tales.

With special gratitude, Lev Fomichov remembered Ivan Stepanovich Suslov, chairman of the artel “Proletarian Art”, who gave him the opportunity to come to Moscow on creative trips. The art critic Lyudmila Konstantinovna Rozova acquainted Fomichov with the Bolshoi Theater. Several times he attended the performances of “Swan Lake” and “Prince Igor”, which had a huge impact on his work. Lev Fomichov was particularly impressed with the set designs created by the famous stage designer Fyodor Fyodorovich Fedorovsky for the operas “Prince Igor”, “Boris Godunov” and “Khovanshchina”. It is not surprising that many of his works are distinguished by a clear musical theme and a rhythmic structure.

The multi-figure composition “Prince Igor in the Camp of the Polovtsy” is built on several planes. In the foreground, the Polovtsian Khan Konchak (left) and Prince Igor (right) stand facing each other, and in the center between them are the Polovtsians who prostrated themselves before the khan. In the middle, there is a group of women and mighty, saddled horses. In the third plane, elegant tents can be seen on the left and right, and in the center, two men perform a war dance with sabers around a campfire. To their left, there are drummers, and to their right, the audience closely watches the performance.

Lev Fomichov began taking part in art exhibitions in 1957. In 1964, he joined the Artists’ Union of the USSR. He was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1970. At the same time, he became a laureate of the Ilya Repin State Prize. In 2014, the artist was bestowed the title of “Honorary Citizen of the Village of Mstyora”.