Johann Rombauer was born in 1782 in the ancient Slovak city of Levocha. He came from a craftman family. Father of the future artist was a woodcarver. He expected his son to continue his family business, but that didn’t happen. Early in his years Johann Rombauer showed his talent for drawing and he began his studies in paintings with Classicist artist Janos Stunder.

In 1806, Johann Rombauer moved to the Russian capital. The artist spent eighteen years in St. Petersburg. The period from 1806 to 1824 was the most significant in his artwork. The artistic manner of the Slovak painter was influenced by the outstanding Russian portrait artists - Vladimir Borovikovsky, Alexey Venetsyanov, Dmitry Levitsky and Orest Kiprensky.

The portrait of Catherine Virubova is a typical sample of Johann Rombauer artwork. Catherine Virubova sits behind the clavichord. She holds a sheet music in her left hand. The right hand rests on the armrest of the chair. The chair frame is carved in the shape of a sphinx. Sculptures of ancient Egyptian sphinx and ibis, images of hieroglyphics as well as eastern ornaments were common in the architecture and furniture design of the first half of the 19th century. Such elements were a manifestation of the Empire style.

The young lady wears a milk-and-white Empire style gown that resembles an antique chiton. The gown is made of a thin translucent fabric. It is tailored with a high waist and a short top that ends under the chest. In the background there is a silhouette of a massive marble column that along with the gown refers the viewer to the times of the Ancient Greece.