Artwork

Portrait of M.G. Savina

Portrait of M.G. Savina, by Konstantin Makovsky, oil, 1887
Portrait of M.G. Savina, by Konstantin Makovsky, oil, 1887

Portrait of M.G. Savina is an oil painting by the Realist artist Konstantin Makovsky. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Konstantin Makovsky’s oil portrait of M.G. Savina dates to roughly 1887. Executed in a realistic manner, the work presents a single female sitter against a dark backdrop, allowing her features and attire to dominate the composition. The painting is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas depicts a woman dressed in a dark gown trimmed with a white lace collar, her hair adorned with a pink bow. Her gaze meets the viewer directly, and her calm expression conveys a quiet dignity, emphasizing the individuality of the sitter within the conventions of 19th‑century portraiture.

Technique & Style

Makovsky employed oil paint to achieve a high level of detail and subtle modeling of flesh tones. The contrast between the dark background and the illuminated figure highlights the subject’s face, while the delicate rendering of lace and fabric reflects the artist’s academic training and realist approach.

History & Provenance

Created during Makovsky’s mature period, when he was linked to the Peredvizhniki movement, the portrait entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s commitment to preserving Russian realist art of the late nineteenth century.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Konstantin Makovsky

Artist

Konstantin Makovsky

Konstantin Yegorovich Makovsky (Russian: Константи́н Его́рович Мако́вский; (20 June o.c.) 2 July n.c.

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.