Fine Art

Portrait of O. A. Roftopulo — History & Facts

A seated figure is portrayed in three-quarter view against a dark, neutral background in Portrait of O. A. Roftopulo, painted by Ivan Kramskoi in 1884.

The subject wears a richly textured white garment with a lace veil adorned with a small brooch, and holds an open black fan decorated with floral patterns. The face is softly illuminated, revealing delicate, naturalistic features and a composed expression. The artist employs fine brushwork in the rendering of the face, while the clothing and fan are treated with looser, expressive strokes, creating a contrast between the detailed and the atmospheric. This painting belongs to the tradition of Russian portraiture in the late nineteenth century, a period marked by an increased interest in individuality and psychological depth.

Ivan Kramskoi was a leading figure among the Peredvizhniki, a group advocating for realism and the depiction of contemporary Russian society. Measuring 45 by 34 centimeters and executed in oil on canvas, the work is held in the collection of the Perm Art Museum (inventory Ж-512) and is dated to 1884.

Sources: Wikidata Q57857876 · Image source (Wikimedia Commons)

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