Artwork
Portrait of Princess Maria Abamelek-Lazareva
Portrait of Princess Maria Abamelek-Lazareva is an oil painting by the Realist artist Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Nikolay Bogdanov‑Belsky’s oil portrait, executed in 1900, presents a solitary female figure seated in an elegant chair.
About this work
Overview
Nikolay Bogdanov‑Belsky’s oil portrait, executed in 1900, presents a solitary female figure seated in an elegant chair. The composition isolates the sitter against a muted backdrop, drawing attention to her attire and demeanor. Rendered in a realist idiom, the work exemplifies the artist’s focus on precise representation and subtle psychological presence.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Maria Pavlovna Demidova, known by her title Princess Maria Abamelek‑Lazareva, poised with a fan in one hand. She wears a dark, glossy gown, a string of pearls, and a delicate pink flower pinned to her wrist, while her hair is arranged in an up‑do. The restrained setting and refined accessories convey both her aristocratic status and a quiet, introspective poise.
Technique & Style
Bogdanov‑Belsky employs fine, layered brushwork to capture the sheen of the black fabric, creating a near‑luminescent surface that suggests wetness. The background is rendered with soft, indistinct tones, allowing the figure to dominate the visual field. The handling of light and shadow aligns with realist principles, while the subtle chiaroscuro adds depth without overt dramatization.
History & Provenance
Since its creation at the turn of the twentieth century, the painting has remained within Russian collections, ultimately entering the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings. The work is catalogued as part of the museum’s extensive realist repertoire, preserving its provenance from the artist’s studio to a public institution.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nikolay Petrovich Bogdanov-Belsky (Russian: Николай Петрович Богданов-Бельский; 20 December 1868 – 19 February 1945) was a Russian painter.
