Portrait of Anna Davia (D'Avia) Bernucci 1782

Dmitry Levitzky painted this portrait of Anna Davia Bernucci with oil on canvas in the late 18th century. Levitsky was renowned for his portraits of Russian nobility and members of the court. At first glance, the portrait seems to uphold the conventions of its time, presenting a vision of feminine grace and aristocratic privilege. Look closer. How does Anna's gaze, slightly averted, invite you into her personal space, yet keep you at a distance? The soft rendering of her features and the delicate ornamentation of her attire—the roses, the ribbons—speak to the ways women were often portrayed as objects of beauty and adornment. Consider how Levitzky, as a male artist, may have contributed to shaping the perception of women in his era. Also, how does Anna, as the subject, negotiate or subvert these expectations? What does it mean to see her depicted in this way, caught between the public role of representation and a more private, perhaps unknowable, self? This portrait invites us to reflect on the complex interplay of identity, representation, and power that continues to shape our perceptions of one another.