Georg Christoph Grooth (1716 - 1749)

Georg Christoph Grooth

Georg Christoph Grooth was a German painter, renowned for his significant contributions to Russian art in the mid-18th century. Born in Stuttgart on January 21, 1716, Grooth moved to the Russian Empire in 1741, where he quickly became a favored portraitist at the Imperial Court under Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. His work during this period includes supervising and restoring royal painting collections and teaching Russian pupils, one of whom was the talented Ivan Argunov​.

Grooth's most celebrated work is the 1743 equestrian portrait of Empress Elizabeth of Russia, which is preserved in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and has replicas in other major institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This iconic portrait shows Elizabeth in a green colonel's uniform, symbolizing her command over the Russian military and navy​.

His role extended beyond painting; from December 1743, Grooth also served as the Keeper of the Palace art galleries, decorating interiors of palaces and other buildings in St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo. This period marked a prolific phase where he created numerous portraits of the Russian aristocracy until his death on October 8, 1749, in St. Petersburg​.

For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Grooth’s works offer a unique glimpse into the 18th-century Russian imperial court and its artistic preferences. Sign up for updates on new product sales and auction events featuring Georg Christoph Grooth’s work to enrich your collection with pieces of historical and artistic significance.