Russian folk arts and crafts and ancient art painting occupies a very significant place in the world culture. But where their sources? How many territories these sources occupy in the Russia? Only very small "gold" triangle of arts! Certainly, there are many other ancient russian crafts, but we examined only ancient painting centres (including icon-painting), that were originated in boundaries XIV-XVII of centuries.
What famous centers of painting arts and crafts were kept till present time in Russia:
Semenov - Khokhloma, painting of wooden tableware, furniture and other handmade products.
Mstyora - lacquer miniatures, art painting of caskets and other wooden and papier-mache goods.
Palekh - lacquer miniatures, art painting of caskets and other wooden and papier-mache goods.
Kholui - lacquer miniatures, art painting of caskets and other wooden and papier-mache goods.
Fedoskino - lacquer miniatures, art painting of caskets and other wooden and papier-mache goods.
Zhostovo - art painting of trays.
Rostov - Rostov enamel. Art painting of metal wares covered of enamel.
Gzhel - art painting of ceramic tableware and toys.
Dymkovo - art painting of ceramic toys.
If you will pay attention to google map where the most known centres of ancient handicraft and painting arts are marked, then you can notice, that all of them are located in the small territory alike a triangle, near Oka and Volga rivers region to the north and the east from Moscow. Only a tiny spot in huge territory of Russia!
Why it happened so? It is possible to suppose only, not claim it is absolute truth...
First, such centers were created near large cities and trading ways, so cities Moscow, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Nizhni Novgorod were largest centers at that time. But why there are not sources of painting arts to the south and to the west from Moscow? Probably, constant attacks of nomads from the south border and military threat from the West burnt out weak beginnings of culture in the villages located there. In addition, local people should care more about safety and build defensive constructions in towns and monasteries (for example, city of armourers Tula is located to the south from Moscow). But icon-painting demands calmness in minds and hearts...
Second, all other east territory of Russia has been populated in XVIII-XIX of centuries and by this time there were powerful centers of crafts, and further development of painting (and artists) are concentred in large cities of european part of Russia, where it was closer to rich estates of merchants and manufacturers.
