Artwork
Portrait of Count D.A. Zubov

Portrait of Count D.A. Zubov is an oil painting by the Realist artist Apollinary Goravsky. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Portrait of Count D.
About this work
This portrait painting depicts a man with curly hair, dressed in a black coat over a white shirt. The background is a muted brown color.
The man's attire and the style of the painting suggest that it may be from the 19th century. The artist has used oil paint to create a detailed and realistic image.
To learn more about the artist behind this portrait, look up Apollinary Goravsky.
Overview
Portrait of Count D.A. Zubov is an 1863 oil painting by Apollinary Goravsky, a Belarusian-born Polish artist working in St. Petersburg. The work exemplifies the Realist style, rendering a detailed, lifelike portrait of its subject against a subdued background.
Subject & Meaning
The painting's subject is Count D.A. Zubov, depicted in formal attire consisting of a black coat over a white shirt, with curly hair. The composition focuses on capturing the likeness and demeanor of the count.
Technique & Style
Goravsky employed oil paint to achieve a high level of realism, characteristic of the movement. The muted brown background contrasts with the subject's detailed, sharply defined features and clothing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1863, the portrait is now part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection in St. Petersburg.
Context
The painting reflects the prevalent Realist aesthetic of 19th-century European art, emphasizing accuracy and everyday subjects. Goravsky's work within the St. Petersburg art scene of the time further contextualizes the piece.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Apolinary Horawski (also spelled Gorawski; Belarusian: Апалінарый Гіляравіч Гараўскі; Russian: Аполлинарий Гиляриевич Горавский; 23 January 1833 – 28 March 1900) was a Belarusian-born Polish painter active mainly in St. Petersburg.














