Portrait of Grand DuchessYelena Pavlovna

This 1796 Hermitage portrait of Grand Duchess Yelena Pavlovna — the same princess depicted in the Gatchina version — demonstrates that multiple versions of imperial family portraits were routine in the Russian court, where paintings were needed for different palaces and diplomatic gifts. The Hermitage version may differ from the Gatchina version in scale, compositional details, or degree of finish, reflecting the layered system of portrait production in which original sittings generated multiple authorised versions. Borovikovsky's workshop was prolific, and distinguishing autograph works from studio versions remains a subject of ongoing scholarship. Both paintings serve as documentation of the elaborate visual culture of the Pauline court.

The Hermitage version shows the polished technique associated with Borovikovsky's autograph work, with careful modelling of the face and an accomplished rendering of the costume. Comparison with the Gatchina version reveals subtle differences in the handling of light and background that reflect the different contexts for which the two paintings were produced.