The French artist Henri-Francois Riesener painted the intimate portrait of Maria Olsufieva in the 1810s. The author created a miniature intimate portrait in the Romantics style. It was important to the author to reflect the individuality of the model, her beauty and the resplendence of her inner world.
Portrait of Olsufieva
Creation period
abt. 1810
Dimensions
30,5x26 cm
30,5х26 cm
30,5х26 cm
Technique
Canvas, oil
Collection
8
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Riesener Henri-Francois
Portrait of Olsufieva
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‘Maria Pavlovna was quite charming, beautiful, clever and dignified, she played the piano very well and took part in amateur concerts’
— wrote Maria Volkova, who was Olsufieva’s contemporary.
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The model is painted against the background of stormy skies. The fragile elegant figure of Olsufieva seemed helpless against the background of the elements. The storm reflected the emotional upheaval of the character, highlighting her emotions, which was characteristic of the Romantics. The Romantics replaced the classical refined landscape with the wild and powerful elements.
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Henri-Francois Riesener. Portrait of Alexander Dmitrievich Olsufiev, img by: New Jerusalem Museum
The picture was created as a companion portrait to the painting of Alexander Olsufiev.
Henri-Francois Riesener employed the same manner and style for both artworks.Henri-Francois Riesener employed the same manner and style for both artworks.
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The French artist became more popular in Russia after the 1812 Patriotic War. Initially, it was the Russian officers, taking up quarters in Paris, who ordered their portraits from the artist. The artist moved to St. Petersburg in 1816 by invitation of the Grand Duke and Duchess Olsufiev. In St. Petersburg the artist painted the portraits of the Imperial family, Duke Nicholas Yusupov and the Duke and Duchess Olsufiev.
Several portraits of the Russian nobility followed. There were grand portraits, intimate portraits, chest-high and full-height portraits among the author’s creations. Many of them were presented in the Romantics style, which was popular at the time. Riesener worked in Russia until 1823, visiting his Homeland only occasionally.
#10
New Jerusalem Museum
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Portrait of Olsufieva
Creation period
abt. 1810
Dimensions
30,5x26 cm
30,5х26 cm
30,5х26 cm
Technique
Canvas, oil
Collection
8
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