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Artwork

Portrait of Sofia Apraxina

Henri-François Riesener , 1818

Portrait of Sofia Apraxina, by Henri-François Riesener, oil, 1818
Portrait of Sofia Apraxina, by Henri-François Riesener, oil, 1818

Portrait of Sofia Apraxina is an oil painting by Henri-François Riesener. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Henri‑François Riesener’s 1818 oil portrait presents a seated woman in a white dress, her gaze meeting the viewer’s.

About this work

Overview

Henri‑François Riesener’s 1818 oil portrait presents a seated woman in a white dress, her gaze meeting the viewer’s. She is positioned on a green chair, a small white dog at her feet, both rendered with a calm, intimate atmosphere that suggests a private domestic scene.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, identified as Sofia Apraxina, is depicted with a serene expression, her posture relaxed and her shawl folded across her lap. The inclusion of the dog, looking attentively toward her, reinforces themes of companionship and gentle affection, inviting contemplation of personal relationships within early‑19th‑century portraiture.

Technique & Style

Riesener employs oil paint to model forms through chiaroscuro, using light and shadow to give the figures a three‑dimensional presence against a muted background. The subtle modulation of tones and the delicate handling of fabric and fur demonstrate the artist’s skill in rendering texture and atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Born into a family of artisans—son of cabinet‑maker Jean‑Henri Riesener and father of Romantic painter Léon Riesener—Henri‑François worked primarily in the early 1800s. The portrait entered the State Hermitage Museum’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of French portraiture.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Henri-François Riesener

Artist

Henri-François Riesener

Henri-François Riesener (19 October 1767 – 7 February 1828) was a French portrait painter and miniaturist.

Hermitage Museum

Museum

Hermitage Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Hermitage Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Hermitage Museum. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.