Who painted Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter?

Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter was painted by Nicolas de Courteille in 1818.

Where can I see Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter?

Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter?

Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter is associated with Neoclassicism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter

Nicolas de Courteille , 1818

Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Nicolas de Courteille. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Nicolas de Courteille’s 1818 oil painting titled *Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter* depicts a mother and child in a restrained composition. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection. Rendered in a limited palette, the figures stand against a dark, unadorned backdrop, emphasizing their solemn expressions.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait presents a woman in a vivid red gown with lace trim, cradling a young girl dressed in white with a blue ribbon. The child holds a small bunch of grapes, a motif often associated with abundance or the fleeting nature of youth. Both sit with serious faces, suggesting a dignified, perhaps commemorative intent.

Technique & Style

Courteille employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between the illuminated figures and the shadowy background to model volume. The mother’s puffed sleeves and high neckline are rendered with fine brushwork, while the child’s simpler attire is treated more loosely. The subtle handling of light on the grapes adds a tactile detail within the overall controlled palette.

History & Provenance

Created in 1818, the painting entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings during the 19th‑century expansion of its Russian portrait collection. Documentation links the work to the Mailevskaya family, though further details of its acquisition remain limited to museum records.

Context

The early 19th‑century Russian aristocracy often commissioned intimate family portraits to affirm lineage and social standing. Courteille’s approach reflects contemporary European portrait conventions, integrating a modest domestic scene with the formal elegance expected of elite patrons.