Very characteristic of the XVIII century. a ceremonial portrait of Alexander Borisovich Kurakin. Borovikovsky tried to emphasize the high position of the customer at the court. “Magnificent”, “the diamond prince”, as he was called by his contemporaries, was vain and very fond of ordering his images.
The artist painted the courtier in full height and with all the orders. The magnificent surrounding setting is transmitted with the help of fireworks of shining colors, bright but harmonious. Many accessories are associated with Paul I: his marble bust on the table, the favorite Mikhailovsky castle in the background and on the armchair is the mantle of the Order of Malta, the Grand Master of which was the emperor. Borovikovsky was able to write and Paul I. So, in 1800 he created a large ceremonial portrait of the emperor, no less luxurious than the image of his lords. Kurakin Alexander Borisovich, the son of Hofmeister Prince BA Kurakin from his marriage to ES Apraksin. In childhood he was brought up with the Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich. He completed his education at the University of Leipzig.
On his return from abroad he lived in the estate of Nadezhdino Saratov province. Paul I appointed him vice-chancellor and awarded the orders of St. Vladimir and St. Andrew the First-Called. In 1799 he was dismissed from the post of vice-chancellor, but in 1801 he received it again. In the reign of Alexander I – the Chancellor of the Russian orders and a member of the State Council. With the participation of AB Kurakin, the Tilsit peace was concluded. In 1809-1812 he was an ambassador in Paris. Cavalier of all Russian orders. Portrait engraved by I. and F. Vendramini in the 1800s and by I. S. Claubert.
(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)