The Prince Dmitry Mikhaylovich Golitsyn

Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Golitsyn, the Russian diplomat who served as ambassador to Vienna and Paris, appears in this 1762 portrait at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. Golitsyn was one of the most cultivated Russian aristocrats of his era, a patron of the arts who assembled an important collection of European paintings. His portrait by Drouais records a man who moved with ease through the highest circles of European diplomacy and culture.

The diplomat is presented with the formal elegance that Drouais brought to his most distinguished sitters, the polished technique creating an image of aristocratic refinement. The costume and decorations indicate Golitsyn"s rank and diplomatic achievements. The face receives careful characterization that conveys intelligence and worldly sophistication. The palette follows court portrait conventions, with dark formal attire relieved by decorative details.