Pietro Rotari, Entourage. Portrait Of Young Russian Girl With Fur Trimmed Cloack And Pearls.

Circle of Pietro Rotari (Verona, 1707 – Saint Petersburg, 1762)

Oil on canvas, 40 x 33 cm

Russia, 18th century

This finely executed portrait shows a young woman wrapped in a dark cloak trimmed with fur, adorned with a red ribbon and a strand of pearls partly hidden beneath her hood. Her gaze, slightly withdrawn, and her partially concealed face create an atmosphere of gentle introspection. The soft modeling of the features and the careful balance of light and shadow evoke a sense of intimacy and reserve.

The painting belongs to the pictorial tradition established by Pietro Rotari, an Italian artist who was active at the Russian court from 1756. Favored by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Rotari became known for his series of “heads of young women” painted in Russia—idealized female figures depicted with slight variations in dress, posture, and expression. His workshop produced numerous variations on this theme, often with high technical quality and subtle emotional nuance.

The present work is likely a product of that circle or a direct follower active in Russia in the latter half of the 18th century. Despite minor abrasions and craquelure consistent with age, the painting preserves its expressive power and strong visual presence.

It remains uncertain whether the sitter was a real individual—perhaps a young noblewoman or actress of the court—or simply an idealized model imagined within the conventions of the time.