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Artwork

Portrait of S.S. Nakhimov

Aleksey Vasilyev , 1862

Portrait of S.S. Nakhimov, by Aleksey Vasilyev, oil, 1862
Portrait of S.S. Nakhimov, by Aleksey Vasilyev, oil, 1862

Portrait of S.S. Nakhimov is an oil painting by Aleksey Vasilyev. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Aleksey Vasilyev’s oil portrait of Admiral Sergei Stepanovich Nakhimov, painted in 1862, is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection. The work presents the naval commander in formal attire, set against a simple, muted backdrop that emphasizes his presence.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, a distinguished Russian admiral, is depicted in a dark military jacket adorned with gold buttons and epaulets, a high collar with a red bow tie, and a prominent medal draped around his neck. His stern expression and neatly trimmed grey beard convey authority and the gravitas associated with his naval career.

Technique & Style

Rendered in oil on canvas, Vasilyev employs a restrained palette and careful modeling of light to define the textures of fabric and metal. The subdued background and subtle chiaroscuro lend a three‑dimensional quality to the figure, while the overall composition remains formal and restrained.

History & Provenance

Completed in the early 1860s, the portrait entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to document notable figures of Russian military history through contemporary portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Aleksey Vasilyev

Aleksey Vasilyev carried a paintbrush like others carry a notebook—jotting down naval officers in crisp uniforms with a few swift, sure strokes.

Hermitage Museum

Museum

Hermitage Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Hermitage Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Hermitage Museum. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.