Artwork
The Empress Elizabeth of Russia on Horseback, Attended by a Page
The Empress Elizabeth of Russia on Horseback, Attended by a Page is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Georg Cristoph Grooth. It dates from 1743 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Georg Christoph Grooth’s oil on canvas, created in 1743, portrays Empress Elizabeth of Russia mounted on a horse and accompanied by a young page. The work belongs to the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, where it is displayed alongside several later copies, including one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art that is also credited to Grooth.
Subject & Meaning
The empress is dressed in a richly ornamented blue military coat, complete with gold buttons, medals and a large black hat, and she holds a field‑marshal’s baton, a symbol of her authority over naval forces. A black page in a white and gold costume follows, carrying a red cloth, emphasizing the courtly entourage and the imperial hierarchy.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a dark, indistinct background that isolates the figures, allowing the bright colors of the coat, horse tack and page’s attire to dominate the composition. Grooth’s handling of light and texture highlights the metallic details of the uniform and the sheen of the horse’s harness.
History & Provenance
Originally commissioned during Elizabeth’s reign, the portrait marked a turning point for Grooth, who had previously worked as an art curator before establishing himself as a painter. Its success secured his reputation in the Russian court, and the original remained in Russian collections before entering the Tretyakov Gallery, while a later version entered the Metropolitan Museum’s holdings.
Context
Equestrian portraits were a common means for monarchs to convey power and military leadership in the 18th century. Grooth’s depiction aligns with this tradition, presenting the empress not only as a ruler but also as a commander capable of controlling both horse and fleet.
Artist & collection
Artist
Georg Christoph Grooth (21 January 1716 in Stuttgart – 8 October 1749 in St. Petersburg) was a German painter employed at the Duchy of Württemberg before moving to Imperial Russia to paint portraits of Elizabeth of…
