Painting “Portrait of Prince Kurakin” by Vladimir Borovikovsky is a true image of a statesman of the Russian Empire

“Portrait of Prince Kurakin” is a painting created by the legendary portrait painter Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky in the early years of the 19th century. Everything in this work is built on calm majesty. The prince is presented in a relaxed pose of a self-confident person, accustomed to rule. He looks down at the audience. This is achieved by the low horizon of the portrait. Borovikovsky wrote the courtier in full growth in all its splendor.

The hero’s ceremonial clothes are made of golden brocade and strewn with sparkling precious stones. The large-scale portrait depicts Prince Kurakin in the middle of the palace interior. Robe of a Knight of the Order of Malta with white eight-pointed crosses, a marble bust of the emperor, a table covered with a scarlet velvet tablecloth. View from the window of the Mikhailovsky Castle – details introduced by the painter to demonstrate the high position of the nobleman at court.

The splendor of the image is created by an unusual color, built on a combination of strong, saturated shades. Golden yellow juxtaposed with dark blue adds conviviality; the brightness of the red in the foreground is balanced by the deep black.

Name of the painting: “Portrait of Prince Kurakin.”
Author: Vladimir Borovikovsky (1757-1825).
Year of writing: 1802
Size: 259 x 175 cm.
Style: Sentimentalism.
Genre: Portrait.
Technique: Oil painting.
Material: Canvas.
Location: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky – the great creator of thoughtful church plots

He is also known as a master of virtuoso miniatures. The artist introduced new trends into Russian portrait art: an increased interest in the inner world of a person, the assertion of the moral duty of the individual to society. The hero of this work – Alexander Borisovich Kurakin – belonged to the ancient princely family of the Gediminovich dynasty. From an early age he was brought up together with the future Emperor Paul I. The prince received his education in the European city of Kiel, where he was sent “for pranks.”

Upon his return to Russia, Kurakin made a rapid career at court. He was in the civil service, holding significant positions. By the end of his life, the prince was a knight of all the highest orders of the Russian Empire. Alexander Borisovich showed himself brilliantly in diplomatic work. Through the mediation of Prince Kurakin, in 1807 a peace treaty was concluded in Tilsit.

After the death of Kurakin, the portrait was kept by his brother for many years at the Preobrazhenskoye estate in the Oryol province. With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the estate was expropriated, objects of fine art and ancient monuments were taken out of it. First, the masterpiece was sent to the museum fund, where many nationalized objects of cultural and historical significance were kept. In 1920, the work of a brilliant portrait painter was placed for permanent exhibition in the State Tretyakov Gallery, the main museum of Russian national art.

The painting “Portrait of Prince Kurakin” by Vladimir Borovikovsky embodies the idea of ​​a high dignitary of the Russian imperial court and gives him a deep psychological description of a person with conflicting personal qualities.