Artwork
Portrait of Mikhail Golitsyn

Portrait of Mikhail Golitsyn is an oil painting by the Realist artist Nikolai Nevrev. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Portrait of Mikhail Golitsyn is an 1865 oil painting by Nikolai Nevrev, characterized by its round format and realistic depiction of the subject. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Mikhail Golitsyn, an older man with a serious demeanor, dressed in formal, dark attire with white accents. His neatly groomed white hair and beard contrast with the somber expression, conveying a sense of gravity.
Technique & Style
Nevrev employed soft, chiaroscuro-inspired lighting to accentuate Golitsyn's facial wrinkles and the texture of his clothing. Attention to detail is evident in the rendering of fabric folds and facial shadows, aligning with the realism movement.
History & Provenance
Created in 1865, the painting has been part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection, with no detailed provenance of ownership changes provided.
Context
As a work of realism, it reflects Nevrev's adherence to depicting everyday life and individuals with accuracy, differing from his more common genre and historical scene paintings.
Legacy
While specific influence or notable exhibitions are not highlighted, the painting remains a testament to Nevrev's skill in portraiture within the realism movement of 19th-century Russia.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nikolai Vasilyevich Nevrev (Russian: Никола́й Васи́льевич Не́врев; 1830 in Moscow – 3 May 1904 in Mogilev Governorate) was a Russian painter who specialized in genre and historical scenes.











