Princess Varvara Nikolaevna Gagarina (1762–1802)

Greuze's portrait of Princess Varvara Nikolaevna Gagarina, painted around 1780-82, depicts a member of the Russian aristocracy during the reign of Catherine the Great. The princess (1762-1802) was part of the cosmopolitan Russian elite who patronized French artists. Greuze, though past the height of his fame by the 1780s, continued to attract aristocratic portrait commissions, and his idealized treatment of female beauty found particular favor with Russian collectors.

Greuze employs his characteristic soft, blended technique for the princess's complexion, with delicate rosy tones and luminous highlights. The treatment of hair and costume shows his later, more fluid manner, while the direct gaze and slight smile create an engaging, intimate presence.