The portrait depicts Konstantin Fyodorovich Yuon — a Russian and Soviet painter, portraitist, set designer, writer and teacher. Konstantin Yuon was a member of the Mir iskusstva (art world) circle and the founder of the Union of Russian Artists society.

Yuon was mostly involved in creating architectural landscapes and theatrical scenery. His works referenced the masterpieces of ancient architecture and the beauty of ancient Russian cities. He dedicated several dozen works to Moscow — a city where he was born and lived his entire life.

One of the landscapes of Konstantin Yuon is featured in the background of the portrait by Porfiry Krylov. It is the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius near Moscow. Yuon often painted architectural monuments, churches, wooden houses, sheds and fences, as well as citizens in bright outfits. The artist was especially attracted to motifs of bright folk festivals and festivities, in which the Russian soul is revealed.

Konstantin Yuon once said:

His painting “New Planet” was the artist’s response to the revolutionary events of 1917. It received contradictory interpretations from art critics.

In addition to his artistic heritage, which is kept in museums in Russia, Konstantin Yuon left dozens of scientific works in the field of pedagogy, painting theory and history of fine art. The Porfiry Krylov Museum in Tula presents a portrait of Konstantin Yuon, painted in 1945 — the year he celebrated his 70th anniversary and was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the RSFSR.