Portrait of V.E. Novosiltseva, Rokotov

Description of the picture:

Portrait of V. E. Novosiltseva – Fedor Stepanovich Rokotov. 1780s Canvas, oil. 70.5 x 50 nine cm

   The portrait of the baby is enclosed in a true oval, which makes it possible to reliably attribute it to the 80s of the XVIII century, when the master preferred to wrap his works specifically in this form.

   The painting depicts Novosiltseva V.E., the daughter of a state adviser, a unique and sophisticated pupil of the Smolny Institute of generous maidens. She is captured on a black background, so her softly lit face simply shines with youth and beauty. Cold light emphasizes the lightness of silk and patterns on the girl’s airy clothes, the grace of a blue satin bow and delicate skin with a slightly noticeable blush.

   The painter with classy craftsmanship conveys various textures – the sharp glossy shine of organza and silk, the soft velvety hair laid in a fluffy powdery hairstyle, the dullness of youthful skin, the vibrant glow of the eyes. A feature of the image is the workshop transmission of the girl’s features. This is reflected in the features of her face, eyes, general expression, manner of holding with an emphasized straight back, but with all this in a fairly direct pose.

   The generous color palette and virtuoso execution technique make this portrait a real masterpiece of painting for all time."