Lot 6: VLADIMIR LUKITSCH BOROVIKOVSKY

oil on canvas

* RUSSIAN, 1757-1825
PORTRAIT OF ALEXANDER I

29 1/2 by 23 3/8 in.<br><br>75 by 59.5 cm

Vladimir Lukitsch Borovikovsky is Russia's most significant late 18^th century portraitist. In this youthful portrait of Alexander I, Borovikovsky conveys remarkable intimacy united with soft poetic rendering of character. The artist's initial training as an icon painter and his employment in decorating provincial churches left a dual legacy; the training initiated him into an exacting technique, one that emphasized meticulous attention to the smallest detail. Subsequent schooling at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts only reinforced his adherence to strict standards of flawless draughtsmanship.

Borovikovsky strived to idealize his sitter's appearance. The Portrait of Alexander I is exquisite in its delicate execution of fluid contours and softness of form. The masculinity and dominance of the military figure is captured in the minimal backdrop of rolling clouds. The emperor stands proud; his massive dignity is emphasized by the artist's effective use of dress and ornamentation. Alexander I is depicted wearing a formal general's uniform, with the sash and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

Alexander I was the son of Emperor Paul I and Marina Fiodorovna. Named after the patron saint of St. Petersburg, Alexander Nevsky, Alexander I consolidated immense power due to his victory against Napoleon during the War of 1812. Borovikovsky expertly depicts the emperor's blue eyes, fair hair, rose-hued porcelain skin and remarkable stature, highlighted by the suggestion of a cunning smile. With immaculate attention to detail, Borovikovsky captures the variegated texture of the emperor's exquisite costume, combining the cold hues of blue silk, with shimmering gold details, fur and jeweled accessories. The lavish and almost exotic detail connotes a possible interest in the Orient, the great inspiration seminal to Romanticism.

Borovikovsky is known to have repeated his most successful compositions. His portrait of Paul I, Alexander's father, painted during the same period, reveals interesting similarities to the present composition (see fig. 1). The positioning of Paul I's body, the cropping at the waist, as well as the almost identical attire clearly demonstrates the distinct attributes characteristic of Borovikovsky's portraiture. Following closer examination of Alexander I, Dr. Grigory Goldovsky from the Russian State Museum has determined that the Ermine mantle was a later addition by a different hand.

This Portrait of Alexander I is an exquisitely rendered and historically important work, rich in intellectual complexity. The meticulous draughtsmanship, the exceptional use of light and color and the suggestion of depth and harmony reveal Borovikovsky's notable contribution to Russian portraiture.