Portrait of Maria Alexeevna Lvova (Djakova) (1755-1807)

Levitzky employed a smooth oil technique, allowing subtle modelling of flesh and fabric. The dark, gradated background of green and black tones recedes, focusing attention on the luminous dress and the sitter’s face. The composition reflects Rococo’s graceful lines and delicate colour contrasts while maintaining a restrained, academic finish.

Created in 1791, the portrait entered the Tretyakov Gallery’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the Lvova family, a branch of the Russian aristocracy, before being acquired by the museum as part of its effort to preserve Russian portraiture of the eighteenth century.