Portrait of Yelizaveta Demidova

Lefèvre was the favourite portraitist of Napoleon and his circle, and later court artist to Louis XVII and Charles X of France. This portrait of Yelizaveta Demidova (née Stroganova; 1779-1818) - wife of Nikolai Demidov, the exceeding wealthy owner of mines and foundries in the Urals, Russia - demonstrates the artist's great professionalism in conveying a portrait likeness. Commissioned portraits are often majestic and official, and the traditional accessories of such portraits are present here - the monumental column, the drapery and landscape - in combination with an impressive colour scheme, built up on contrasts of warm and cold tones, and a desire to show the sitter's state of mind. Demidova has sunk into thought, letting slip the book she was reading. The natural pose, the head tilted to one side and the thoughtful gaze emphasize the mood of melancholy contemplation.