This work by the English portraitist George Dawe (February 8, 1781, London - October 15, 1829, London) entered the museum collection as ‘Portrait of an Unknown.’ After some research, it was concluded that it depicts Alexander Ribаuрiеrrе, a brilliant Russian courtier and diplomat of Swiss origin. Alexander Ribаuрiеrrе (1781/1783 - 1865) was the son of Ivan Ribаuрiеrrе, a foreman of the Russian army (the aide-de-camp of Grigory Potemkin) and Agrafena Bibikova, a woman from a famous noble family.
The collection of the Taganrog Museum also includes her portrait by an unknown artist. So in one collection there are two portraits of the same family.
Agrafena Ribаuрiеrrе-Bibikova was the beloved maid of honor of Empress Catherine II and had great success at social events. In marriage, in addition to her son Alexander, she had two more daughters. It was precisely because of Alexander that she was once placed under police surveillance and expelled from Saint Petersburg.
The collection of the Taganrog Museum also includes her portrait by an unknown artist. So in one collection there are two portraits of the same family.
Agrafena Ribаuрiеrrе-Bibikova was the beloved maid of honor of Empress Catherine II and had great success at social events. In marriage, in addition to her son Alexander, she had two more daughters. It was precisely because of Alexander that she was once placed under police surveillance and expelled from Saint Petersburg.
However, the disgraced countess never made it to her place of exile. Alexander I who ascended the throne, sent a courier for her and returned her to the capital. The reason for this disgrace was the duel between young Alexander and Prince Chetvertinsky. It is believed that it happened because of a lady to whom Emperor Paul was not indifferent. Ribаuрiеrrе himself was imprisoned in a casemate, but that instance did not have serious consequences and did not affect his brilliant career further on.
