The artist is Levitsky
In the seventies of the XVIII century, by order of Catherine II, Levitsky wrote a series "Smolinki", consisting of seven portraits of pupils of the Smolny Institute of noble girls – a privileged educational institution opened in St. Petersburg in 1764 by decree of the empress. Daughters of the nobles were prepared there for court service and social life. Talents brought up in girls, "Nice in society", – They were taught French and German, elegant manners, as well as sing, dance, play musical instruments. The Smolny Institute often arranged ideas where the Smolians played French comedies, and also performed in the ballet.
Levshina Alexandra Petrovna (1757-1782), in marriage, Princess Cherkasy. The daughter of the prime minister p. And. Levshina and Tatyana Ivanovna (nearean. Princess Koltsova-Masalskaya). From 1764 to 1776 she was brought up at the Smolny Institute, which she graduated from a large gold medal and cipher of Catherine II. Since 1778 the Empress’s maid of honor. Since 1780, married to the captain of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky regiment, Prince P. AND. Cherkasy. She died in Moscow.
It is depicted in a suit in which she danced in one of the ballets staged on the stage of the Theater of Educational Society of noble girls. Copy (loading) – Odessa Art Museum.
About the restoration of a series of paintings d. Levitsky "Smolinki" On the website of the Restoration Service of Museum Values
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The state of safety before restoration:
During laboratory tests, it was found that, creating a portrait a.P. Levshina Levitsky applied the innovative reception, adding wax to the oil binding layer. As a result, the artist managed to convey unique picturesque effects – overflows of silk, air lightness of folds, materiality of surroundings. However, it was the wax that contributed to the strongest infection of the portrait with colonies of mold during its location in the unheated premises of the Great Peterhof Palace at the beginning of the 20th century. The mold was very “corroded” the painting, thinning the layers and changing their color. In addition, the entire surface of the colorful layer was struck by the craquelure of early drying, the so -called oil ruptures. In some places, the width of the oil ruptures reached 5 mm. As a result, for these and other reasons, the portrait later turned out to be almost totally spelled out by multi -time restoration poniations, demanded clearing the author’s painting.
Complex of the events:
First of all, conservation of a colorful layer and soil was carried out – the painting was strengthened over the entire surface. Duplicate edges were brought down on the perimeter on the back, thanks to which the picture was corresponded to the necessary tension on the subframe. After the removal of all the late records and the old dark yellow layers of varnishes, the original author’s image was revealed: the rigidity and gloom of the facial features disappeared from the image of Levshina, the interior received depth, the floor of the floor acquired a promising construction. In conclusion, subtle tones were performed that hid the losses of painting and molds of mold, the picture acquired integrity, depth, perspective. The author’s sound and splendor is returned to the image of the girl’s costume, where the innovative techniques of Levitsky were fully demonstrated.
Keeping a story. Restoration workshop of the Russian Museum – 100 years. SPb, 2022. With. 86.
Programs/Films about this work in the media text:
D.G.Levitsky. By the 275th birthday
Creation year: 2010 | Video painting | Language: | Duration: 25:47
Dmitry Grigorievich Levitsky – one of the best portraitists in Russian history of painting. In this film, the director of the Russian Museum in.AND.Gusev talks about the work of the master and the history of his work on the series of portraits of the pupils of the Smolny Institute of noble girls.
Dmitry Levitsky. “Smolinki”. Restoration of portraits
Creation year: 2010 | Interactive program | Language:
The multimedia program was released for an exhibition dedicated to the 275th anniversary of the birth of Dmitry Grigoryevich Levitsky in the Russian Museum. The program talks about the restoration of the famous “Smolyans” – seven portraits of pupils of the educational society of noble girls at the Smolny Institute.
