In his civil life, Golitsyn promoted the development of education and healthcare, was successful in working with various charitable organizations, large enterprises and government institutions and received many awards for his service. 

 
At the time the displayed portrait was created, Golitsyn was a third-class master of the horse, an honorable trustee on the Moscow Board of Trustees of Empress Maria Feodorovna’s institutions, a member of the governing board of the Moscow Orphanage, and an honorable magistrate. 

 
Pavel Pashkov created the portrait of Golitsyn in a style reminiscent of impressionistic works. The painter used soft strokes, saturated warm colors and made an emphasis on the play of light and shadow. 

 
The portrait shows the prince in a full-dress military uniform. Pashkov was meticulous about depicting its smallest details: interwoven gold-thread laces, buttons with the national emblem, cufflinks and numerous commemorative tokens. 

 
Prince Golitsyn’s tunic is decorated with orders and medals conferred on the prince during his military and civil service and for participation in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Golitsyn is wearing massive gold rings on his fingers symbolizing his noble rank and high status. The red ribbon of the Order of St. Stanislaus running over his right shoulder holds a civilian sword. The weapon is aimed to point to the prince’s readiness to defend his homeland at any time, rather than demonstrate his warlike character or cruelty. 

 
The painter included all these details in the portrait to show that Prince Golitsyn was a worthy representative of a famous noble family and a true citizen of his country.