Georg Christoph Grooth (1716-1749)

Portrait of Peter Karl Ulrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, later Tsar Peter III (1728-1762), small bust length, wearing armour with lace chemise, ermine cape, the blue sash and star of the Order of Saint Andrew and the red sash of the Order of Saint Anne

Details

Georg Christoph Grooth (1716-1749)
Portrait of Peter Karl Ulrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, later Tsar Peter III (1728-1762), small bust length, wearing armour with lace chemise, ermine cape, the blue sash and star of the Order of Saint Andrew and the red sash of the Order of Saint Anne
with the crowned inventory number 555 on a label on the stretcher and with the inventory numbers 967 (in blue) and 4701 (in blue) on the stretcher
oil on unlined canvas, unframed
43.4 x 37.8 cm

Lot Essay

The original is in the Tret'iakov Gallery, Moscow. Another copy has been in the Musée de Versailles since 1838 (see Les Peintures - Musée National du Château de Versailles, I, p. 417, no2361, ill.).

The sitter was the son of Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and Grand Duchess Anne Petrovna (1708-1728), the eldest surviving daughter of Tsar Peter the Great. Since his mother died at childbirth, he was adopted by his aunt, Elisabeth Petrovna, Empress of Russia (reigned 1741-1762). In 1741 he converted to the Russian Orthodox religion. He married Sophie Augusta Frederica, Princess of Anhalt-Zerbst (1729-1796) on 1 September 1745. Peter succeeded his aunt to the throne on 5 January 1762 as Tsar Peter III. In July the same year his wife replaced him on the throne, becoming Tsarina Catherina the Great. Peter was banished to Ropsha and murdered on 17 July 1762.

See colour illustration

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