This original work, «Half a copy of Vladimir Borovikovsky's Elena Naryshkin», was created by contemporary Russian artist Viktoria Sapegina and is available for purchase online.

Viktoria Sapegina's painting «Half a copy of Vladimir Borovikovsky's Elena Naryshkin» is an intriguing statement that places a classic example of Russian portrait art into a modern context. The work is not merely a copy but a reinterpretation, where the personal style of a 21st-century artist engages in dialogue with the legacy of the 18th century.

The focus is a female portrait executed in a technique combining elements of academic painting with a freer, more expressive approach characteristic of Sapegina's contemporary manner. The painting depicts a lady dressed in an outfit reminiscent of the romantic style of the early 19th century, with dark, voluminous hair.

The face, while retaining features of the original (presumably the portrait of Elena Naryshkin by Borovikovsky), is rendered more simply and expressively. The model's gaze is directed slightly upward and to the side, giving the facial expression a dreamy and somewhat detached quality.

A distinctive feature of the painting is its declared «halfness». It is not a complete reproduction but rather a fragment, emphasizing certain elements that the artist considered most important for conveying the image or her own statement. This «incompleteness» or «selectivity» is a key point highlighting the author's vision.

The color palette is quite bright, especially regarding the blue draping element (a scarf or shawl), which contrasts with the white dress and dark hair. In the background, elements of a landscape are visible — greenery of trees and possibly a water surface, referencing the tradition of romantic portraiture set in nature, characteristic of Borovikovsky.

The painting technique is freer than that of the classics. Brushstrokes may be more noticeable and less smoothed, giving the work liveliness and a contemporary tone. Sapegina likely uses colors that, while inspired by the original, acquire new richness in her execution.

«Half a copy…» is a kind of artistic commentary on art history. Viktoria Sapegina does not simply reproduce but «brings to life» the classic image, prompting the viewer to reflect on how perceptions of beauty and ideals change over time and how a contemporary artist reinterprets the canons of the past. It is a tribute to the master and simultaneously a bold statement of the right to personal interpretation.

This painting can be hung on the wall in your apartment, house, office, restaurant, or hotel, and it will become a wonderful decoration for your interior. You can buy the painting «Half a copy of Vladimir Borovikovsky's Elena Naryshkin» sized 40 x 30 cm online with secure delivery to the address you specify.

Paintings for sale on Baranow Art Gallery