Russian Art
Unknown artist
"Countess N. P. Zubova, Portrait". 1820s
Notes: Portrait of Countess N. P. Zubova (1801-1868), born Princess Shcherbatova, wife of Count A. N. Zubov
Following their German and French counterparts, some nineteenth-century Russian artists conceived their portraits as opportunities to demonstrate not only their ability to create a likeness of a sitter, but also their skill in using color, composition, light, and shade to suggest the sitter's character and to enhance the beauty of the portrait.
This portrait of the Countess N. P. Zubova (1801-1868), born Princess Shcherbatova displays those dual concerns. Though the artist is unknown, the composition is of high quality and conveys the charm of the sitter.
