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PORTRAIT OF GRAND DUCHESS ELENA PAVLOVNA
PORTRAIT OF GRAND DUCHESS ELENA PAVLOVNA
Made by: Christina Robertson
On view in: Marjorie Post's Bedroom Hall
About this object
Christina Robertson was a British portrait and miniature painter. Born Christina Saunders in Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland, Robertson learned to paint miniatures from her uncle, George Saunders, a miniaturist based in London. Robertson developed a successful portrait career and often traveled abroad in search of new clients. From 1839-1841, Robertson lived and worked in St. Petersburg, Russia. After spending eight years in her London studio, Robertson returned to Russia in 1849 to work as a portraitist for the imperial family. The sitter in this portrait may be a member of the Russian artistocracy, but no positive identification has been made.
Portrait of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, almost full length seated on a red sofa. Her golden hair is dressed with braids on either side. Her blue dress is low cut and trimmed with lace. She wears necklaces and bracelets. At left is a table with a red marble top, a vase of flowers, an open book and a golden vase in the 17th century style. Over back of sofa is a reddish cloak lined with ermine. Behind the sofa is an elaborately carved ebony sofa with two Renaissance rock crystal vases. Bronze frame is comtemporary to the painting.
- Category:
- paintings
- Object name:
- PORTRAIT OF GRAND DUCHESS ELENA PAVLOVNA
- Made from:
- Watercolor on ivory --bronze
- Made in:
- RUSSIA
- Date made:
- 1841
- Size:
- 24.8 × 19.1 cm (9 3/4 × 7 1/2 in.)
Detailed information for this item
- Catalog number:
- 53.28
- Class:
- MINIATURE
- Signature marks:
- SIGNATURE Christina Robertson p. on front Christina Robertson painted this (pinxit) date 1841 on front 4/6 inside the back of the frame
- Credit line:
- Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973