RUSSIAN PAINTING: DMITRY LEVITSKY SUVERTOK OLGA IVANOVNA School 1958, Moscow, 2007 State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg

Russian portrait painting The Visual arts were slowly developing in Russia. The 18th and early 19th centuries produced portraitists Rokotov, Levitsky and Borovikovsky, who showed the significance of human personality with the complex spiritual world. Dmitry Levitsky Rokotov Borovikovsky

Russian portrait painting Rokotov “Portrait of Struiskoi” Borovikovsky “Portrait of Lopukhinoi” Leviskij “Rzhevskaya and Davydova”

. Smolny Institute Smolny Institute was founded by Katherina the Great

Smolny Institute Ivan Ivanovich Beysky was the head of the Institute Smolyanki were the girls of noble origin who were going to become courtiers

Dmitry Levitsky Dmitry Levitsky was born in 1735 in Kiev. His father was a clergyman in the Theological Academy and was a well-educated person.

Dmitry Levitsky: series “Smolyanki”. Levitsky’s portraits are united by optimistic perception of life and admiration for the variety of its form. Levitsky created numerous unforgettable portraits, among them is a series “Smolyanki”.

Smolyanki were well educated and well bred, they were fond of music, literature, painting.. In “Necklidov’s Portrait” (1773) he managed to show the In “Necklidov’s Portrait”he managed to show the shimmer of light over the expensive fabrics, delicate lace and the beautiful young face. While looking at the picture you are struck by his deep perception of the spiritual life of young female souls.

He didn’t think her to be and ideal monarch and he managed to show it. Later he was interested in the portraits of outstanding people. The portrait of Katherine the Great Levitsky painted every detail of her cloth: double-headed eagles on the robe of state, order’s band, the creases in her dress. But he paid the least regard to her face. A frozen smile and a haughty expression make it similar to a mask.