Portrait of Ivan A. Nabokov (1787-1852)

Nabokov is shown wearing a dark coat trimmed with a vivid red collar and gold‑embroidered epaulettes, indicating a senior officer’s status. The array of medals, including a prominent star‑shaped award, signals his distinguished service and the honors he had accumulated by the time of the portrait.

The work employs a realistic approach typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture, with careful attention to the texture of fabric and metal. The artist uses a limited palette for the background, allowing the bright reds and golds of the uniform to stand out, while subtle chiaroscuro models the sitter’s face.

Created in 1822, the portrait was likely commissioned to commemorate Nabokov’s military achievements. It later entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, where it is displayed among other contemporary portraits of Russian officials.

The painting reflects the Russian Imperial tradition of honoring high‑ranking officers with elaborate dress and insignia. Such portraits served both as personal commemoration and as visual reinforcement of the hierarchical order within the empire’s armed forces during the early 19th century.