Who painted Portrait of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov?

Portrait of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov was painted by Georg von Bothmann in 1860.

Where can I see Portrait of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov?

Portrait of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov is held by Hermitage Museum.

Artwork

Portrait of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov

Portrait of Prince Vasily Dolgorukov is an oil painting by Georg von Bothmann. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1860, this oil portrait depicts Prince Vasily Dolgorukov, a senior Russian military figure, and is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection. The work is attributed to the German painter Georg von Bothmann, whose career spanned the mid‑nineteenth century. The composition presents the prince in a formal pose against a softly rendered landscape, emphasizing his rank and status.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown in full dress uniform, complete with gold‑trimmed epaulets and a blue sash that signify his high command. He grips a sword in his right hand while his left rests on the hilt, a conventional symbol of martial authority. The subdued background, featuring a hazy sky and indistinct terrain, serves to focus attention on the figure’s dignified bearing.

Technique & Style

Bothmann employed oil pigments to achieve a high degree of realism, rendering the texture of the uniform and the gleam of metal with meticulous detail. The brushwork balances fine modeling of facial features with broader, softer strokes in the landscape, creating a contrast between the sharply defined portrait and the atmospheric backdrop.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings after being acquired in the early twentieth century, though the exact path from the Dolgorukov family to the museum is not fully documented. Its attribution to Bothmann has been confirmed through stylistic comparison with other works from the same period, reinforcing its place in the museum’s Russian portrait collection.