Russian school, ca. 1840. "Pair of portraits.... Lot 74

Russian school, ca. 1840. "Pair of portraits. Clergyman and his wife". Oil on metal. Frames in gilt metal. Measurements: 17.5 x 22 cm (frame) and 19.5 x 24.5 cm (frame). In this couple of portraits, probably of a clergyman and his wife, the painter extracts with an exquisite pulse the right qualities to the clothes, both of the clerical costume of rich blue fabrics of the male character, and of the embroidered attire with the shoulders uncovered and puffed sleeves of the lady. The latter, in turn, stands out for the headdress that adorns her gathered hair, from which emerges a delicate tulle with floral lace, and for the necklace of pearls and emeralds that decorate her delicate complexion and match the earrings. The black background against which the painter places the figures emphasises by contrast their tense flesh tones, typical of their youth, monumentalising the figures and eliminating anecdotal elements. These are two perfectly studied compositions that focus our attention on the attitudes and gestures of each of them, telling us about their personalities: while the man rests his arm on a table, holding a book in his right hand, most probably liturgical in content, the woman looks at the viewer in a concentrated attitude, with a hint of a smile that invites us to want to know more about her. The extreme virtuosity in the treatment of the faces, perfectly outlined and smoothly delineated, speaks of the painter's unquestionable technical skill.