The painting was done by Aleandra, the eldest daughter of the poet Evgeniy Boratynskiy. This is a copy from the original work of the Russian portrait painter of German origin Karl Bardu, who painted portraits of many famous Muscovites.
Alexandra Boratynskaya (1827-1874) was an amateur artist. She was born in Moscow and received a good home education. From an early age, Alexandra showed a penchant for drawing and painting. Yevgeny Boratynskiy conferred to his mother in November 1841 ‘Alexandra seems to demonstrate a real talent for painting. With a few lessons, she has already made remarkable progress. It is possible to hope that she will improve her abilities’. A few months later he wrote the same to his friend Nikolai Putyata: ‘Alexandra has made great achievements in painting and promises to become a real talent.’.
The family portrait depicts Lev Engelhardt, his wife Ekaterina and their children. Among them: Anastasia, who became Boratynskaya after she was married, as well as Pyotr, Natalya and Sofya. The latter married a friend of Evgeniy Boratynskiy, Nikolay Putyata.
“The family portrait of the Engelhardts” was painted by Bardu in 1816 in pastel. It is distinguished by a harmonious composition and a bright, clean colour scheme. It is written in a sentimental and romantic way and reflects the spirit of love and virtue that prevailed in this family.
Karl Bardu was a popular portrait painter. He was born in Berlin, but moved to Russia in the early 19th century. Bardu was particularly fond of the genre of the family portrait. He painted representatives of famous noble families: Boratynskiy, Engelhardt, Tolstoy, Lazarev.
He also authored children’s portraits of prominent Russian poets, including Yevgeny Boratynskiy and Fedor Tyutchev. From 1812 to 1816, Bardu worked in Kazan, where he created a portrait gallery of famous Kazan citizens.
Alexandra Boratynskaya (1827-1874) was an amateur artist. She was born in Moscow and received a good home education. From an early age, Alexandra showed a penchant for drawing and painting. Yevgeny Boratynskiy conferred to his mother in November 1841 ‘Alexandra seems to demonstrate a real talent for painting. With a few lessons, she has already made remarkable progress. It is possible to hope that she will improve her abilities’. A few months later he wrote the same to his friend Nikolai Putyata: ‘Alexandra has made great achievements in painting and promises to become a real talent.’.
Later, the attitude towards Alexandra’s work in the family changed. Her niece Ekaterina wrote in her memoirs: “Aunt Alexandra is an artist. She didn”t study art much, so her original paintings were not masterful, but she was able to copy others, and our rooms were full of her paintings copied in Italian art galleries. She was not married and died of lung fever at 40 years”.
The family portrait depicts Lev Engelhardt, his wife Ekaterina and their children. Among them: Anastasia, who became Boratynskaya after she was married, as well as Pyotr, Natalya and Sofya. The latter married a friend of Evgeniy Boratynskiy, Nikolay Putyata.
“The family portrait of the Engelhardts” was painted by Bardu in 1816 in pastel. It is distinguished by a harmonious composition and a bright, clean colour scheme. It is written in a sentimental and romantic way and reflects the spirit of love and virtue that prevailed in this family.
Karl Bardu was a popular portrait painter. He was born in Berlin, but moved to Russia in the early 19th century. Bardu was particularly fond of the genre of the family portrait. He painted representatives of famous noble families: Boratynskiy, Engelhardt, Tolstoy, Lazarev.
He also authored children’s portraits of prominent Russian poets, including Yevgeny Boratynskiy and Fedor Tyutchev. From 1812 to 1816, Bardu worked in Kazan, where he created a portrait gallery of famous Kazan citizens.
