The Grand Duke sits in an armchair, with his right hand resting on the edge of the table, and his left hand holding a cigarette. He is dressed in a dark blue ceremonial uniform with gold epaulettes and a red coat. Serov highlights the face of the model with color and light. The contrast between the dark background and the illuminated face enhances the solemnity and rigor of the portrait.
Around the prince the author leaves a lot of free space - the figure of the model takes about one third of the picture. With this composition the artist wanted to create a sense of space and naturalness. At the same time the model’s pose looks artificial. Straight flat back, tightened position of neck and head, strict look - all this hints at the habit of George Mikhailovich to military order. Predominance of diagonal lines emphasizes the statics of the image.
In the portrait Serov managed to feel and convey the dual nature of the model. On the one side, we see a dignified and serious aristocrat in an exquisitely careless pose. And on the other side, the prince’s face suggests that he is an unconfident person, with a confused and blank look. The artist enhances this psychological portrait of the model with various color and light effects.
The portrait is distinguished by artistic impression and contradiction, which are characteristic of Serov’s works. He was sober in his perception of high-ranking models, he never idealized them, but on the contrary - sought to reveal the character’s temper, and subordinated the whole artistic decision of the work to this purpose.
