STATE PORTRAIT OF EMPEROR ALEXANDER I RUSSIA FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY Canvas oil Romanticism 19th century
A waist-length state portrait of Emperor Alexander I of Russia (1777–1825), depicted en face. The monarch is shown in full military dress with richly decorated epaulettes and orders, including the star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and other highest decorations of the Russian Empire. His right hand rests upon a book of laws, symbolising the supremacy of law over autocracy and echoing the Emperor’s image as a reformer. The composition features an architectural background with a column and heavy red drapery, enhancing the grandeur of the scene.The pose and composition closely follow the famous lifetime portrait of Alexander I painted in 1814 by Russian artist Roman Maksimovich Volkov (1776–1831) during the Emperor’s visit to London, and engraved by British master Henry Hoppner Meyer (1782–1847). This iconography was widely disseminated in Europe and Russia through engravings and served as a model for official and state portraits such as this one. The presence of the book of laws directly reflects Volkov’s original concept as transmitted through Meyer’s engraving, underlining the reformist symbolism of the image.The lavish gilded frame is surmounted by a sculptural finial in the form of the Imperial Crown, suggesting an official or institutional origin. The crown finial shows traces of early restoration.Dimensions: 90 × 72 cm (framed: height 130 cm, width 94 cm)Material: Oil on canvasCondition: Good preservation, with natural patina of age.Provenance: Probably created for an official hall or administrative institution in the first half of the 19th century, based on the engraved portrait by Volkov/Meyer of 1814.
| ID: | 129726 |
|---|---|
| Originality: | yes |
| Condition: | Satisfactory |
| Year of manufacture: | 19th century |
| Size: | 94 x 130 x 10 cm |
| Shipping to: | Worldwide |
| Payment method: | Wire Transfer, Credit card, Cash |
| Delivery method: | Postal service, Courier service, pickup by yourself |
| Purchase returns: | 14 days |
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