Who painted Portrait of a young man?

Portrait of a young man was painted by Vladimir Borovikovsky in 1801.

Where can I see Portrait of a young man?

Portrait of a young man is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Portrait of a young man?

Portrait of a young man is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

Portrait of a young man

Vladimir Borovikovsky , 1801

Portrait of a young man is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Vladimir Borovikovsky. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Vladimir Borovikovsky, a painter of Ukrainian Cossack origin who achieved fame in the Russian imperial court, executed an oil-on-canvas portrait of a young man circa 1801. The work exemplifies his neoclassical phase, during which he was the foremost portraitist in Russia. Today the painting is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a solitary male sitter dressed in a black coat trimmed with red cuffs and lapels. He holds a folded sheet in his right hand while his left arm rests on a dark, rocky ledge. Light hair is gathered in an elevated curl, and his gaze meets the viewer directly, conveying a composed, self‑assured demeanor.

Technique & Style

Borovikovsky employs delicate, blended brushwork to render the sitter’s facial features, allowing them to merge subtly with the surrounding darkness. The contrast between the deep background and the vivid red of the collar accentuates the figure’s presence, while the overall handling reflects the neoclassical emphasis on clarity and restrained elegance.

History & Provenance

Created at the turn of the nineteenth century, the portrait entered the holdings of Warsaw’s National Museum, where it remains on display. Its acquisition history beyond the museum’s collection records is not documented in the available sources.

Context

The painting belongs to the period when Borovikovsky was consolidating his reputation as the leading portraitist for Catherine the Great’s court. His work from this era often combined neoclassical compositional balance with a refined, intimate portrayal of individual sitters, reflecting the tastes of the Russian aristocracy at the time.

Artist & collection

Artist

Vladimir Borovikovsky

Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (August 4 1757 – April 18 1825) was a Russian artist of Ukrainian Cossack origin. He served at the court of Catherine the Great and dominated portraiture in Russia at the turn of the 19th century.