ИСТОКИ ПОРТРЕТНОЙ КОНЦЕПЦИИ В ТВОРЧЕСТВЕ В.Л. БОРОВИКОВСКОГО

Abstract

The article is a consideration of “Portrait of O.K. Filippova” – the first known female image in the art of Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1757–1825). The object of the research is the definition of distinctive features in the artistic manner and principles of the portrait characteristic at the very beginning of the master’s work. The matter of the portrait conception’s origins calls for comparison with the art of F.S. Rokotov: in the scientific literature it is customary to establish the continuity between rococo art and sentimentalism on the example of the best portrait painters in those periods. The comparison of “Portrait of O.K. Filippova” with the most famous work of F.S. Rokotov – “Portrait of A.P. Struyskaya” – gives an opportunity to rethink the existing tradition in the historiography of Russian art of 18th century. Notable distinctions are present in all elements of portrait conception characteristic of both painters: typological principles, compositional means, painting devices and technical features. That conclusion casts doubt on the widespread thesis about the stylistic continuity between rococo and sentimentalism and demonstrates the need for further research on the issue on a wider sample of works.