Artwork
The Empress Elizabeth of Russia (1709–1762) on Horseback, Attended by a Page
The Empress Elizabeth of Russia (1709–1762) on Horseback, Attended by a Page is an oil painting by the Academic Art artist Georg Cristoph Grooth. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A liveried Black page steadies the bridle as Empress Elizabeth Petrovna sits astride her horse in the uniform of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards, a field marshal's baton in hand. Georg Christoph Grooth painted this small equestrian portrait after 1743. The first of its kind for a female Russian ruler, it tied her to the military legacy of Peter the Great.
Subject & Meaning
The composition aligns with academic portraiture traditions, using symbols of power, horse, uniform, club, to convey leadership and strength.
The portrait depicts Empress Elizabeth I of Russia mounted on a horse, attended by a page. She is shown in military uniform, holding a club, with elements referencing the Russian Navy, such as the naval flag or uniform details. This equestrian portrait, typical of royal iconography, emphasizes her authority and martial prowess.
The inclusion of the page and the formal riding attire reinforces her sovereign status and command. The painting serves primarily as a state portrait, celebrating Elizabeth as the ruler and commander of Russia's military forces. The composition aligns with academic portraiture traditions, using symbols of power, horse, uniform, club, to convey leadership and strength.
Technique & Style
This equestrian portrait is executed in oil on canvas, the medium typical of academic portraiture of the period. The support is a standard-sized canvas measuring approximately 79.7 by 62.2 cm. Stylistically, the work belongs to the academic art movement, characterized by its formal composition, attention to detail in the depiction of the uniform and horse, and a restrained color palette suited to a royal subject. While the handling of paint is not described in available records, the overall technique is consistent with the polished, courtly style of mid-18th-century portrait painting.
History & Provenance
This equestrian portrait was painted in 1740 by Georg Christoph Grooth. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through donations from Albert C. Lehman and Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Spear Jr., as recorded in the museum's provenance. It has been exhibited in notable shows such as The Eighteenth-Century Woman and Celebrating Saint Petersburg.
Overview
Georg Christoph Grooth's oil painting depicts Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great, mounted on a horse and attended by a page. Dressed in the uniform of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment and holding a field marshal's baton, she projects military authority. This equestrian portrait was significant as the first of its kind for a female Russian monarch, deliberately connecting her to Russia's military strength and her father's legacy.
Legacy
The portrait quickly gained prominence, leading to the creation of numerous copies, including one by Grooth's student, Lucas Conrad Pfandzelt, now in the State Russian Museum. Its widespread recognition is further evidenced by Johann Joachim Kaendler's porcelain figure of the Empress, produced at the Meissen manufactory. This ceramic rendition, commissioned to commemorate Elizabeth's reign, underscores the painting's significant cultural impact and its role in shaping her public image.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Georg Christoph Grooth (21 January 1716 in Stuttgart – 8 October 1749 in St. Petersburg) was a German painter employed at the Duchy of Württemberg before moving to Imperial Russia to paint portraits of Elizabeth of…
