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Bryullov’s skill as a monumentalist was reflected in the large portrait of Princess Elena Pavlovna with her daughter, which was painted by the artist in 1830.
This painting has an interesting history of creation: in 1828, the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, who considered herself the patroness of artists, set off on a trip to Italy. Her Imperial Highness, as contemporaries wrote, deigned to be in the Vatican, and Russian painters working there, including Bryullov, had the good fortune to accompany Her Highness through all the halls of the museum and art gallery. The results of Bryullov’s acquaintance with the Grand Duchess were not slow to show themselves. “During her stay in Rome, the Empress Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna was pleased to order me her portrait full-length and several copies from it,” wrote Karl Bryullov. Numerous sketches testified to the artist’s hard work on completing the order. He constantly changed the pose of Elena Pavlovna and her daughter, the setting, the details. Inquisitively looking for a compositional solution and came to the conclusion that it was necessary to portray the Grand Duchess in motion. From now on, he began to use this technique in large portraits.
Year of painting: 1830.
Dimensions of the painting: 265 x 185 cm.
Material: canvas.
Writing technique: oil.
Genre: portrait.
Style: romanticism.
Gallery: State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.
