Portrait of Varvara Ivanovna Monycharova (Arapetova?)

Executed in oil, the painting displays Borovikovsky’s characteristic smooth brushwork and subtle modeling, giving the figure a luminous skin tone and textured fabrics. The composition reflects Rococo influences through its delicate color palette, ornamental shawl, and the gentle, almost pastel background of muted green‑gray.

After its creation, the portrait entered private collections before being acquired by the Tretyakov Gallery, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of Russian portraiture from the turn of the 19th century.

At the time of its execution, Borovikovsky was serving the court of Catherine the Great and had become the preeminent portraitist for the Russian nobility. This work illustrates the transition from the more formal Baroque portrait tradition toward a softer, more intimate visual language favored by the elite of the era.