Portrait of Alexander Kokorinov - Dmitry Levitzky

A formal portrait of Alexander Kokorinov, the first director of the Imperial Academy of Arts, painted by Dmitry Levitzky in 1769.

Dmitry Levitzky, a master of the Russian portrait tradition, painted this work in 1769. It depicts Alexander Kokorinov, the inaugural director of the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. The subject stands in a three-quarter pose, his hand resting upon a table that holds architectural plans. This detail identifies his professional role as an architect and administrator.

Levitzky employs a restrained palette, focusing on the textures of the subject's attire. Kokorinov wears a white coat trimmed with dark fur, layered over a waistcoat featuring gold embroidery. The lighting is soft, directed to draw attention to the subject's face and his steady, composed expression. The background remains dark and indistinct, which ensures the figure remains the primary focus of the composition.

The painting reflects the formal standards of the eighteenth-century Russian court. Levitzky demonstrates technical precision in his rendering of fabric and the subtle play of light across the sitter's features. The work captures the professional dignity expected of a high-ranking official during the reign of Catherine the Great.

This portrait is held in the collection of the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. It remains a representative example of Levitzky's ability to balance psychological insight with the formal requirements of state portraiture. The composition avoids unnecessary ornamentation, relying instead on the quality of the brushwork and the clarity of the subject's posture to convey authority. The architectural drawings on the table provide a narrative element, linking the sitter to his contributions to the development of the Academy building itself.