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Portrait of F.A. Borowski. 1799
Borovikovsky Vladimir,
Oil on сanvas
80,5 x 62,5
State Russian Museum
Annotation
Fedor Artemyevitch Borowski (1746–1805) – the army general, the close associate of A.V. Suvorov, M.I. Kutuzov and N.V. Repnin. At the end of 1760 – the adjutant of the regiment of yellow Hussars. In 1768 he participated in the work of the Commission on composing a New Codex as a representative of the nobility of the Novorossiysk province. From 1796 he was the commander of the regiment of Hussars named after him. That regiment stood near Mogilev. In 1797 on a false denunciation Fedor Artemyevitch Borowski was brought to justice, and thus, resigned. In March 1798 he was arrested, but was soon justified by the verdict of a special commission. Being retired, by the decree of Paul I he got permission to wear his uniform.
The artist depicted general Borowski in the embroidered hussar uniform with the Order of St. George that was an award for military merit. He is introduced to the audience as brave, courageous, but at the same time quite ordinary person. Probably, this characteristic comes in some disagreement with the general upbeat tone of the portrait. But most of all it is an evidence of the brilliant author's observation. Energetic turn of the head gives a portrait a certain pathos.
Author's Biography
Borovikovsky Vladimir
Borovikovsky, Vladimir Lukich
1757, Mirgorod - 1825, St Petersburg
Painter, draughtsman, miniaturist, icon painter, portraitist. Born into a family of low rank Cossacks. Studied painting under his father, the icon painter Luke Borovik, in Mirgorod. Listed "above the specified number" in the Mirgorod regiment where his father and relatives served (1774). Awarded the rank of "comrade of the colours" (1783), resigned with the rank of lieutenant. Moved to St Petersburg (1788) and studied under Dmitry Levitsky and Johann Baptiste I Lampi. Nominated to the Imperial Academy of Arts (1794), academician of portrait painting (1795). Councillor of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1802). Contributed to the iconostasis of the Kazan Cathedralin St Petersburg (1804). Mason and member of Ekaterina Tatarinova''s mystical sect.