Artwork
Portrait of Princess Z. N. Yusupova
Portrait of Princess Z. N. Yusupova is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist François Flameng. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography centers on specific luxury items that define her status, most notably the historic La Pelegrina pearl, which she wears prominently.
François Flameng's 1894 oil painting depicts Zinaida Yusupova, presenting her as a figure of aristocratic opulence. The iconography centers on specific luxury items that define her status, most notably the historic La Pelegrina pearl, which she wears prominently. Her attire includes rich fur and accessories such as a bracelet and a glove, elements that collectively emphasize her wealth and high social standing within the Russian court.
The work functions as a formal statement of identity, where the careful rendering of these jewels and fabrics serves to symbolize the power and prestige of the Yusupov family. By isolating these specific attributes against the portrait's composition, the artist creates a representation that transcends mere likeness to become an emblem of elite heritage.
Technique & Style
François Flameng executed the Portrait of Princess Z. N. Yusupova in oil paint on canvas, a standard medium for his late-nineteenth-century portrait practice. The work is a formal portrait measuring 125.0 cm in height by 94.0 cm in width, and was produced in France in 1894. Its composition centers on the sitter, Zinaida Yusupova, and incorporates carefully rendered attributes of aristocratic luxury, including the La Pelegrina pearl, fur, a bracelet, and a glove, suggesting meticulous attention to the textures and reflective qualities of jewelry and fabric.
The painting is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it has been presented in the exhibition "Jewels! The Glitter of the Russian Court."
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Princess Z. N. Yusupova was painted by François Flameng in 1894, executed in oil on canvas in France. The work depicts Zinaida Yusupova and entered the Hermitage Museum's collection, where it remains held. It was later included in the exhibition "Jewels! The Glitter of the Russian Court."
Context
François Flameng painted Portrait of Princess Z. N. Yusupova in 1894, depicting Zinaida Yusupova adorned with the La Pelegrina pearl, fur, bracelet, and glove. The work is housed in the Hermitage Museum and was featured in the exhibition Jewels! The Glitter of the Russian Court.
Overview
François Flameng’s 1898 oil portrait presents Princess Zinaida Yusupova seated in an opulent interior. The composition captures the Russian aristocrat in a delicate pink gown, a fur shawl, and a pearl‑set bracelet, her posture relaxed on a red velvet chair. The painting is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
François Léopold Flameng (6 December 1856 – 28 February 1923) was a French painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the son of printmaker Léopold Flameng who educated him.
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