“Family Portrait of Catherine Petrovna Baryatinskiy” is a Neoclassical portrait created by the artist Angelica Kauffman. The artwork depicts an elegant portrayal of a family group set in a refined and stately ambiance.
In the artwork, four figures are rendered with nuanced attention to their attire and posture. The composition is anchored by a seated female figure adorned in a golden-yellow gown, exuding a sense of grace and poise. Behind her, a bust of a classical figure presides on a pedestal, signifying the intellectual and cultural sophistication of the family. Flanking the central bust are three standing figures, dressed in the period’s elaborate costumes. To the left, a male figure in a green coat and white cravat rests his hand on the pedestal, gazing outward. The central female figure, draped in a flowing white dress, tenderly rests her hand on the shoulder of the adjacent male figure, who is attired in a red coat and holds a small dish, further enhancing the scene’s sense of engagement and interaction. The backdrop features classical architectural elements, including an arch and columns, contributing to the Neoclassical aesthetic of the painting. Overall, the artwork meticulously showcases both the familial bonds and the cultivated sophistication of its subjects.
