Portrait of Alexander III, Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy

Description of the picture:

Portrait of Alexander III – Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy. 1886. Oil on canvas. One hundred twenty nine x ninety two cm

   One of the last works of the outstanding portrait painter Ivan Kramskoy was a canvas depicting autocrat Alexander III.

   The artist received an order for this painting from a member of the State Council A. Polovtsov, who was also an honorary member of the Academy of Fine Arts. The portrait is painted strictly and accurately. With the implied plot lack of freedom, Kramskoy was free in the technical means of embodiment. The texture, plasticity of the image, the face of the king – this is where the painter showed artistry and technical talent.

   The uniform is decorated poorly enough, taking into account all the rewards of the king – the viewer can notice only the white order of St. George II degree, and an award saber of gold.

   It is impossible not to note the filigree image of the situation that surrounds Alexander – textured gilded furniture that gives the portrait splendor and solemnity.

   Alexander III himself greatly appreciated art, especially painting. It is known that he collected canvases, including the “Wanderers”. Were in his collection and paintings of Kramskoy. Later, Polovtsov will present another picture of Kramskoy, a portrait of the emperor, but not to the tsar-collector himself, but as a gift to his posthumous museum."

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