Portrait of Elena Pavlovna 

Vladimir Borovikovsky painted this portrait of Elena Pavlovna in oil on canvas sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The artist was one of many portrait painters working for the Russian Imperial court. The painting offers a glimpse into the lives of the aristocracy in Russia at the time. Elena is dressed in an elegant gown, an indication of her social standing. The setting, with its classical columns and heavy drapery, is reminiscent of a stage, and it presents the sitter as a figure of importance. Borovikovsky’s work reflects the influence of Western European artistic styles, particularly French Neoclassicism, which was fashionable among the Russian elite, eager to emulate the cultural trends of Europe. To fully understand such artworks, the historian uses archival documents, letters, and other primary sources that shed light on the social and institutional contexts in which the artwork was produced and consumed. By focusing on these issues, we understand how artworks uphold existing social structures, or at times, challenge them.