People’s Artist of the Russian Federation and teacher, Vladislav Fyodorovich Nekosov was born in 1940 near Mstyora, in the village of Vetelnitsy. He studied at the Mstyora Art School and worked at the factory “Proletarian Art”.

Vladislav Nekosov achieved great success in many genres of art, including lacquer miniature, monumental paintings, icon painting and jewelry design. The artist is inspired by fairy tales, oral epic poems, literary images, songs and historical events. Nekosov is known as a master of elegant lyrical landscape. His artistic style is characterized by narrative representation, simple compositions and harmonious color palettes.

The panel “The Madonna of Mstyora” by Nekosov depicts a Russian needlewoman and embroideress at work at her house. Mstyora is renowned for its embroidery. This craft emerged there in the 18th century thanks to the nuns of the convent in the name of St. John the Merciful. They decorated liturgical garments, church utensils, shrouds and icons with gold and silver embroidery. Local craftswomen are proficient in applying a plethora of techniques and methods.

The image of a woman — a mother, the guardian of the family hearth and traditional cultural and spiritual values — is characteristic of Vladislav Nekosov’s works. The embroideress is dressed in a white shirt and a long blue skirt with a gold pattern of small stylized flowers. A child in a light-colored shirt stands next to the woman and attentively looks at her work.

In the background on the right is a stove with decorative columns, on the left is a latticed window and a narrow iconostasis with three icons. The artist focuses the viewer’s attention on the ornament, which is present on almost all objects, giving them an elegant and festive look: ornamental stripes decorate the light green tablecloth, the brick-red carpet, the scarlet curtain, the clothes of the characters… Using different shades of blue, red, green and orange, Vladislav Nekosov creates a balanced, festive palette.

In 2010, Vladislav Fyodorovich Nekosov was bestowed with the medal of the Russian Artists’ Union “Spirituality. Traditions. Skill.” for his enormous contribution to the development of art in the country. In 2014, the artist was awarded the title of honorary citizen of Mstyora.