The sitter was a Russian diplomat, vice-chancellor, State Chancellor and acting Foreign Minister of Russia. He was the son of General Count Peter Ivanovich Panin. In 1797 he served as resident minister at the Prussian court, tasked with preparing the cooperation between Prussia, France and Russia during the French Revolutionary Wars. He is said to have been involved in the plot to assassinate Emperor Paul I of Russia. From 1801 until his death he lived abroad and on his estates, and spent his time studying the occult sciences. A sketch of the sitter, inscribed and dated 'Le Cte. de de Panin, / 23 mars 1801.', is in the artist's sketchbook which is now in the State Russian Museum, St Petersburg.
We are indebted to Michael Asvarishch, Curator of the Numismatic Department at the State Russian Museum, St Petersburg for his help with our research.