Portrait of Natalia Zakharovna Kolycheva, née Hitrovo 1799

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun painted this portrait of Natalia Zakharovna Kolycheva, née Hitrovo, with oil on canvas. The subject is posed with a book, but it’s the arrangement of colour and form that really structures our attention. Notice how Le Brun uses a limited palette to unify the composition. The greens, blues, and oranges complement each other, creating a visual harmony that is both pleasing and carefully constructed. The soft brushwork and delicate rendering of the subject’s features enhance the sense of refinement and grace, typical of the Rococo style. Yet there's also a hint of Neoclassical austerity in the clean lines and balanced composition. Le Brun skillfully balances the textures of the fabrics, the luminosity of the skin, and the depth of the background to create an alluring portrait. These elements combine to produce a complex interplay of form and surface, reflecting the aesthetic and philosophical concerns of the late 18th century.