Artwork

Count Platon Zubov

Count Platon Zubov, by Johann Köler, oil, 1873
Count Platon Zubov, by Johann Köler, oil, 1873

Count Platon Zubov is an oil painting by the Realist artist Johann Köler. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Count Platon Zubov is an 1873 oil painting by Johann Köler, portraying the titular figure in a realistic style. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Count Platon Zubov, is depicted in a somber, fur-lined coat with a high collar, conveying an air of seriousness and formality. His facial expression, characterized by a mustache and neatly combed hair, reinforces this solemnity.

Technique & Style

Köler employed chiaroscuro to create depth, using strong shadows to sculpt the Count's face and shoulders against a plain, dark background. The thick, textured fur of the coat adds a tactile quality to the realism of the piece.

History & Provenance

Created in 1873, the painting is attributed to Johann Köler, a key figure in Estonia's national awakening and its first professional painter. It has been part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection.

Context

As a work of the realism movement, *Count Platon Zubov* reflects Köler's adherence to depicting reality without romanticization, aligning with the artistic trends of its time.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of *Count Platon Zubov* are not highlighted, as a Köler piece in a major museum, it contributes to the understanding of Estonian artistic emergence and 19th-century realism.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Johann Köler

Artist

Johann Köler

Johann Köler (8 March 1826 – 22 April 1899) was a leader of the Estonian national awakening and a painter.

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.