After Franz Krüger, German 1797-1857- Portrait of Emperor Nicholas I...

After Franz Krüger,
German 1797-1857-

Portrait of Emperor Nicholas I Pavlovich (born 1796, reigned 1825-55);

oil on canvas, 94.5 x 72 cm.

Provenance:
Anon. sale, Sotheby's, London, 28 November 1991, lot 480 (as by Franz Krüger);
where acquired by the present owner.

Note:
The present portrait of Nicholas I is painted after the 1852 portrait by Franz Krüger, of similar dimensions, and now part of the collection of the Hermitage Museum. While it is not known who painted this version, its high quality suggests that it was possibly commissioned by the Imperial court. The Krüger portrait was widely considered the best image of the Tsar and as such was frequently copied. Though today contested, in the opinion of the late Serge Ernst, formerly of the Hermitage, the present work should be firmly attributed to Krüger.