Who painted Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov?

Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov was painted by Vincenzo Petrocelli in 1851.

Where can I see Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov?

Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov?

Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov is associated with Realism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov

Vincenzo Petrocelli , 1851

Portrait of Young Duke N.B. Yusupov is an oil painting by the Realist artist Vincenzo Petrocelli. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Vincenzo Petrocelli’s 1851 oil on canvas portrays a young nobleman, identified as Duke N.B. Yusupov. The portrait belongs to the State Hermitage Museum’s collection and exemplifies the realist approach that characterized Petrocelli’s work during the mid‑nineteenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is presented in a dark suit with a white bow tie, holding a top hat in one hand while the other rests lightly on a chair. He stands within an opulently furnished interior, suggesting both his aristocratic status and the domestic refinement associated with his rank.

Technique & Style

Petrocelli employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated face to emerge from a deep, shadowed background. This contrast heightens the three‑dimensionality of the figure and creates a dramatic focus, a common device in realist portraiture to convey presence and psychological depth.

History & Provenance

Born in Naples in 1823, Petrocelli trained under Domenico Morelli before establishing a career that combined history painting with portraiture. The painting entered the Hermitage’s holdings in the early twentieth century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s European art collection.

Context

During the 1850s, Italian painters increasingly embraced realistic representation, moving away from idealized classicism. Petrocelli’s work reflects this shift, integrating meticulous detail with a naturalistic treatment of light, aligning him with contemporaries who sought to depict contemporary figures with immediacy and fidelity.