Artwork
Portrait of Countess Anna Sheremetyeva in a ''Carousel'' Costume
Portrait of Countess Anna Sheremetyeva in a ''Carousel'' Costume is an oil painting. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. The canvas presents a formally seated woman, rendered in oil, whose attire resembles a ceremonial armor.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Rendered in oil on canvas, the work measures 138 by 87 centimeters and is housed in the Hermitage Museum.
The painting portrays Anna Sheremeteva wearing a symbolic carousel costume, reflecting aristocratic pageantry and imperial theatricality in late 18th-century Russia. The attire and accompanying sword underscore her noble status and courtly role, while the composition highlights the era's fascination with staged representation and ceremonial display. Rendered in oil on canvas, the work measures 138 by 87 centimeters and is housed in the Hermitage Museum.
Technique & Style
The portrait is painted in oil on canvas, measuring 138 cm in height and 87 cm in width. The handling emphasizes smooth, blended transitions in the modeling of the sitter’s face and costume, while the drapery and decorative elements of the carousel-style dress are rendered with crisp, linear precision.
The composition centers on the seated countess, whose gaze and posture convey poised elegance. The background is subdued, allowing the elaborate costume and the bright accents of the dress to dominate the visual field. The palette features muted tones for the figure, contrasted with vivid reds and golds in the costume, creating a striking yet refined effect.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Countess Anna Sheremetyeva in a 'Carousel' Costume was created in 1776. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work depicts Anna Sheremeteva in court dress holding a sword. The painting is attributed to an unknown artist and was produced in Russia.
It is currently held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. The specific commission details and the full chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records.
The Portrait of Countess Anna Sheremetyeva in a 'Carousel' Costume is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. The work, created in 1776, is cataloged within the museum's holdings as an oil painting on canvas. Specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records.
The painting depicts Anna Sheremeteva in court dress holding a sword and measures 138 cm in height by 87 cm in width.
No specific exhibition history for this work is documented in the provided sources.
Overview
The canvas presents a formally seated woman, rendered in oil, whose attire resembles a ceremonial armor. She occupies a simple chair against a dark backdrop, allowing the richly embroidered, jewel‑adorned gown and towering, ornamented headdress to dominate the composition. One hand grasps a modest object while the other rests on the arm of the seat, emphasizing her poised yet restrained demeanor.
Artist & collection
