Ivan Kuzmich Makarov, 1822-1897

Ivan Kuzmich Makarov, son of an art teacher, studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts under A. T. Markov. The artist adhered firmly to the conventions of contemporary portraiture. His clarity of vision and ability to capture the personality of the sitter earned him great popularity in his lifetime.

On leaving the Academy in 1853, Makarov travelled to Italy and spent two years in Rome. This experience influenced him significantly, and his style became more grandiose. At the height of his career, he was one of Russia's most celebrated portraitists, especially renowned for his idealised portrayals of women and children, including one of Princess Maria Alexandrovna, his patron, who ranks among his most famous sitters. In 1855, he was granted the title of Academic, in which elevation his privately commissioned portraits filled with dignity, grace and femininity were highly influential.

Makarov's attention to detail in Portrait of an Elegant Lady does not prevent the viewer noticing her serene yet engaging expression. The artist was not generally interested in decoration, and so the attention lavished on the sitter's dress and accessories is not merely a decorative device, but serves to convey her individuality and character.