Artwork
Peter the Great, tsar of Russia
Peter the Great, tsar of Russia is an oil painting. It dates from 1724 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is an oil painting that presents a portrait of Peter the Great, the Russian tsar.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait genre piece, its primary meaning lies in the representation of the Tsar's authority and presence during the final year of his life.
The work depicts Peter the Great, the Tsar of Russia, as the sole main subject of this anonymous portrait. Created in 1724, the painting presents the monarch in a formal style typical of the era, focusing entirely on his likeness without additional narrative elements or symbolic objects described in the available records. As a portrait genre piece, its primary meaning lies in the representation of the Tsar's authority and presence during the final year of his life.
Technique & Style
The portrait was executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 110 cm by 91 cm, and depicts Peter the Great in a formal pose that emphasizes his imperial authority. The brushwork demonstrates a restrained realism typical of early 18th‑century Russian portraiture, with careful attention to facial detail and the texture of clothing rendered through layered glazes. The composition follows classical conventions of portraiture, positioning the sitter against a muted background that draws focus to his presence.
The work’s condition is stable, retaining its original surface integrity without significant craquelure or loss of pigment, and it remains housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The formal qualities include a balanced arrangement of figure and space, a limited palette that highlights the sitter’s regalia, and a compositional emphasis on the sitter’s direct gaze, reinforcing the portrait’s authoritative tone.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Peter the Great in the Rijksmuseum’s collection is dated to 1724, aligning with the tsar’s final years.
The work entered the museum through its anonymous painting collection, where it has been held since at least the early 20th century. Its dimensions are recorded as 110 cm in height and 91 cm in width, painted on canvas using oil medium.
The anonymous oil painting of Peter the Great, dating to 1724, is held jointly by the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum. While specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the work is classified as a portrait on canvas. The sources indicate the painting's location as these two Amsterdam institutions but do not document a specific exhibition history or list past showings.
Overview
The work is an oil painting that presents a portrait of Peter the Great, the Russian tsar. He is depicted in a green vest edged with gold, worn over a white shirt, and holds a wooden staff in his right hand. The figure emerges from a dark backdrop illuminated faintly from the right, creating a clear separation between subject and background.
Artist & collection
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