Who painted Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya?

Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya was painted by Gavriil Yakovlev in 1855.

Where can I see Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya?

Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya?

Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya

Gavriil Yakovlev , 1855

Portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya is an oil painting by the Realist artist Gavriil Yakovlev. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Gavriil Yakovlev’s oil portrait of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya dates from 1855 and is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection. The work presents the sitter from the waist upward, her body angled slightly to the right while her gaze meets the viewer directly. The composition is framed by a subdued background that emphasizes the figure’s presence.

Subject & Meaning

Ekaterina Nikolaevna Volotskaya is shown in formal attire, a white dress with lace trim and a front bow, complemented by a veil, pearl necklace, and earrings. Her dark hair is arranged in an updo, suggesting a refined, possibly aristocratic status. The direct eye contact and poised posture convey both confidence and the conventions of mid‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting demonstrates Yakovlev’s careful handling of light and shadow to model the subject’s features and fabric. Subtle gradations of tone render the lace and pearls with tactile realism, while the muted background recedes, allowing the illuminated white dress to dominate the visual field.

History & Provenance

Created in 1855, the portrait entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition history is not extensively documented, but the work has been recognized as a representative example of Yakovlev’s portrait practice during the Russian Empire’s mid‑century artistic milieu.

Context

The painting reflects the conventions of Russian portraiture in the 1850s, a period when the middle and upper classes commissioned works to affirm social standing. Yakovlev’s approach aligns with contemporary academic standards, emphasizing clarity of form, restrained coloration, and a focus on the sitter’s individual identity within a formal setting.