Portrait of Alexander I, Czar of Russia
Medium
Brush and brown wash over graphite underdrawing.
Dimensions
6 5/8 x 4 7/16in. (16.8 x 11.3cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.19.102
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate portrait drawing captures Alexander I, Czar of Russiar. 1801–1825), a pivotal figure European history who navigated the Napoleonic Wars, expanded Russian influence, and pursued reforms amid autocratic rule. Created by Jean-Baptiste-François Bosio, a Frenchlassical sculptor renowned for monumental works like the Arc de Triomphe reliefs, this undated piece (n.d.) reflects the era's fascination with imperial portraiture, blending Enlightenment ideals with regal authority. Executed in brush and brown wash over graphitedrawing on a modest 6⅝ × 4⁷⁄₁₆ inches (16.8 × 11.3 cm) sheet, the...