A double-portrait en brochette of General Field-Marshall Count Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1745-1813), in dark green uniform, gold-embroidered red collar, wearing the Russian Order of Highest Distinction, the breast-star of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Andrew, the sash and breast-star of the Military order of St. George (1st class), the Order of St. Vladimir (1st class) and the Austrian Order of Maria-Theresa (1st class); and Count Piotr Khristianovich Wittgenstein (1768/69-1843), in dark green uniform, gold-embroidered red collar, gold epaulette, wearing the blue moiré sash and breast-star of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Andrew, the badge and breast-star of the Military Order of St. George (2nd class), the Order of St. Vladimir (1st class) and the cross of the order of St. Anne (1st class) around his neck

Details

RUSSIAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1812
A double-portrait en brochette of General Field-Marshall Count Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1745-1813), in dark green uniform, gold-embroidered red collar, wearing the Russian Order of Highest Distinction, the breast-star of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Andrew, the sash and breast-star of the Military order of St. George (1st class), the Order of St. Vladimir (1st class) and the Austrian Order of Maria-Theresa (1st class); and Count Piotr Khristianovich Wittgenstein (1768/69-1843), in dark green uniform, gold-embroidered red collar, gold epaulette, wearing the blue moiré sash and breast-star of the Imperial Russian Order of St. Andrew, the badge and breast-star of the Military Order of St. George (2nd class), the Order of St. Vladimir (1st class) and the cross of the order of St. Anne (1st class) around his neck
on ivory
2 9/16 in. (65 mm.) diam., gilt-wood frame

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Prince Mikhail Golenishchev-Kutuzov and Count Piotr Wittgenstein were military heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. When Kutuzov died in 1812, Wittgenstein succeeded him as the head of the Russian Army.
A similar miniature, inset in a laquer box, was sold at Christie's, London, 18 December 1996, lot 253. Two similar independent portraits of Kutuzov and Wittgenstein, probably by the same hand, are illustrated in T. A. Selinova, Portrait Miniature in Russia, XVIII-XIX Centuries, from the Collection of the Historical Museum, Moscow, Leningrad, 1988, nos. 199 and 4, illustrated pp. 165 and 187, pl. 122 and 144.

More from Important Portrait Miniatures and Gold Boxes

View All