Dmitry Levitsky

Dmitry Levitsky Portrait of Catherine II as a Legislator in the Temple of the Goddess of Justice
Portrait of Catherine II as a Legislator in the Temple of the Goddess of Justice

The work of Dmitry Levitsky is distinguished by expressive coloring, precisely calculated composition, plasticity of almost sculptural forms and a subtle play of color on textured fabrics and objects of that era.

Dmitry Levitsky Portrait of Ekaterina Nelidova
Portrait of Ekaterina Nelidova

Artist Dmitry Levitsky: biography

Dmitry Levitsky was born in May 1735 into a family of hereditary clergy named Nos. The artist’s father was also ordained to the priesthood, but for unknown reasons he left the parish and went abroad. In Germany, he learned engraving skills, and then returned home to Ukraine. Where and when Grigory Kirillovich changed his surname Nos to a more harmonious one remains unknown. But one thing is clear – the engraver Levitsky became the boy’s first teacher.

Dmitry Grigorievich Levitsky met the artist Alexei Antropov, who from 1752 for three years supervised the painting of St. Andrew’s Church in Kyiv. It is assumed that the venerable monumental decorator took his young apprentice to St. Petersburg immediately after the completion of the work. In archival documents there is evidence that Levitsky lived in the artist’s house for six years.

Dmitry Levitsky Portrait of Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov
Portrait of Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov

Creation

The first work of the painter, which received recognition, was a portrait of the artist Gavrila Kozlov with his wife, for which Levitsky was awarded the title of “appointed to the academicians.”

Dmitry Levitsky Portrait of Agafia Dmitrievna (Agasha) Levitskaya
Portrait of Agafia Dmitrievna (Agasha) Levitskaya

At some stage, the portrait painter began to have conflicts with the leadership. For four years Levitsky worked without salary and payments for state orders, and in 1787 he was forced to quit. In a petition addressed to the council, the portrait painter referred to a serious illness and physical infirmity, but it is known for certain that a month before these events he was absolutely healthy.

The reason for the disgrace could be accusations of political unreliability – Levitsky maintained close relations with the poets Vasily Kapnist and Nikolai Novikov, who criticized the authorities. Little information has come down to us about the last years of the artist’s life. Having retired from business, he lived in his house on the Kadetskaya line and worked on private orders. He painted portraits of those close to the heir to the throne, was a member of the Masonic lodge.

Portrait of Ekaterina Bakunina Painting Dmitry Levitsky
Portrait of Ekaterina Bakunina Painting Dmitry Levitsky
Platon Zubov
Platon Zubov
Portrait of Prokofy Akinfievich Demidov
Prokofy Akinfievich Demidov
Portrait of E.N.Khovanskaya and E.N.Khrushchova
Portrait of E.N.Khovanskaya and E.N.Khrushchova
Portrait of an unknown elderly man with a boy
Portrait of an unknown elderly man with a boy
A.F. Kokorinov
A.F. Kokorinov
Portrait of Favst Petrovich Makerovsky in fancy dress
Portrait of Favst Petrovich Makerovsky in fancy dress
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