Artwork
Portrait of A.Ushakov, the Head of the Secret Chancellery

Portrait of A.Ushakov, the Head of the Secret Chancellery is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Portrait of A.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject is shown wearing a formal dress uniform, an iconographic choice that signals his administrative rank and standing within the imperial bureaucracy.
The portrait depicts Andrey Ushakov, the head of Russia's Secret Chancellery, rendered in 1750 in oil on canvas. The subject is shown wearing a formal dress uniform, an iconographic choice that signals his administrative rank and standing within the imperial bureaucracy. By presenting Ushakov in official attire rather than private dress, the work functions as a status portrait, communicating the authority and institutional power associated with his role in the Secret Chancellery.
The painting thus serves both as a likeness of the individual and as a visual record of the office he held.
History & Provenance
Created in 1750, this oil painting on canvas depicts Andrey Ushakov, the head of the Secret Chancellery, wearing a dress uniform. The work was produced in Russia by an artist who remains unidentified. Throughout its history, the portrait has been held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it is currently located. The canvas measures 120 cm in height and 104.5 cm in width.
Overview
Portrait of A.Ushakov, the Head of the Secret Chancellery is an oil painting depicting its subject in formal, ornate attire against a dark background, emphasizing his presence through chiaroscuro.
Technique & Style
The artist employed chiaroscuro to create a sense of volume, using strong light and dark contrasts to make the subject stand out against the somber backdrop.
Context
Given the subject's role as Head of the Secret Chancellery, the portrait likely served to symbolize power and official status within a historical context of formal, representational art.
Artist & collection


















