Original artwork description:

“Legend of the Castle Hill” draws inspiration from an old legend about an enchanting tsarevna (princess-sorceress) said to dwell deep within Castle Hill in the city of Vitebsk. According to the legend, she possessed incomparable beauty, was dressed entirely in white, and was surrounded by lions and countless treasures. On the eve of Ivan Kupala, she would scatter gold and diamonds around her, but if anyone dared to touch these riches, they would turn to dust—and the tsarevna herself would disappear.

In this painting, created using oil monotype with acrylic, I sought to convey the legend’s mysterious atmosphere: the fluid, imaginative architecture, the majestic lions guarding its hidden secret, and a central female figure radiating an inner light. Warm hues and shimmering transitions of color evoke a sense of magic, drawing the viewer into a realm where the boundaries between reality and fairy tale dissolve.

“Legend of the Castle Hill” will be a captivating focal point in any space, narrating the colorful history of Vitebsk and sparking the imagination. This piece transports you to another dimension—one where ancient myths spring to life, bestowing a sense of wonder and gentle nostalgia.

Materials used:

oil, acrylic

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