Maria Nicolaevna, Duchess of Leuchtenberg by Christina Robertson
Vladimir Orlov-Davydov by Christina Robertson
Portrait of Grand Duchesses Olga Nikolaevna and Alexandra Nikolaevna by Christina Robertson
Self-portrait by Christina Robertson
Portrait of Prince Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov by Christina Robertson
Great Duchess Elena Pavlovna by Christina Robertson
Portrait of Princess Zinaida Yusupova by Christina Robertson

Where to See Christina Robertson

4 museums worldwide

About Christina Robertson

British · 1796–1854 · portrait

Scottish portrait[1] painter who became the first woman elected to the Royal Scottish Academy and the sole female honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.

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Christina Robertson's works are held in 4 museums worldwide, including Hermitage Museum, Russian Museum, and Nationalmuseum.

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🇷🇺 Russia

2 museums

Also in RussiaHermitage Museum (14)Russian Museum (2)

🇸🇪 Sweden

1 museum

Also in SwedenNationalmuseum (2)

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 museum

Also in United KingdomVictoria and Albert Museum (1)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where can I see Christina Robertson's work?
    You can find Christina Robertson's work in several museums and galleries. These include institutions in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In the UK, you can view her pieces at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, located in Brighton, and the Manchester Art Gallery in Manchester. Additionally, the National Museums of Scotland, specifically the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, holds examples of her work. The Victoria & Albert Museum, situated in London, also has pieces available for viewing. In the United States, museums that house her art include the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Further locations are the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis; the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond; and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University in Miami Beach.
  • What should I know about Christina Robertson's prints?
    Julia Margaret Cameron's photographs were sold as fine-art prints through several vendors in London. Her initial business relationship was with P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., a leading print dealer. In 1865, Cameron rented the Colnaghi galleries for a solo show and consigned 460 photographs to them. Colnaghi may have printed and mounted some of her photographs. The prints sold and distributed by Colnaghi bear an oval blindstamp. They also often had a gold outline around the image. Cameron also sold her work through William Spooner, another print seller. Spooner's prints have a two-inch horizontal blindstamp with the words 'Registered Photograph'. Cameron sometimes arranged for notable sitters, such as Alfred Tennyson and John Herschel, to sign the mounts of her photographs, increasing their retail price. She also had sitters' signatures lithographed on the mount. Later, Cameron collaborated with the Autotype Company to produce carbon prints of her successful images. These prints were known for their permanency and were marked with stamps.
  • Why are Christina Robertson's works important today?
    Christina Robertson (1796[1]-1854[1]) was a Scottish portrait[1] painter who achieved considerable success during her lifetime, particularly in Russia. She became the first woman to be an honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. Robertson's works offer insights into the lives and appearances of the European aristocracy and Russian Imperial family during the first half of the 19th century. Beyond their historical value, Robertson's paintings contribute to the ongoing reassessment of women's roles in the arts. Often, women artists were either excluded from the art historical narrative or their contributions were minimised. Robertson's career demonstrates that women could achieve professional success and recognition as artists, even within the patriarchal societies of 19th-century Europe. Her body of work adds to the growing understanding of women's artistic agency and professional accomplishments.
  • What techniques or materials did Christina Robertson use?
    Christina Robertson (1796[1]-1854[1]) was a Scottish artist, mainly known for her portrait[1] paintings. She worked primarily in oils, producing portraits that were admired for their attention to detail and colour. Robertson gained recognition for her ability to capture likenesses and textures, which she achieved through careful observation and skilled brushwork. Her technique involved building up layers of paint to create depth and dimension in her subjects' faces and costumes. She paid close attention to the play of light and shadow, using subtle gradations to model forms and create a sense of realism. In addition to her oil paintings, Robertson also worked with other media, including watercolour and pastel. These works display her versatility as an artist and her willingness to experiment with different techniques. Her success as a portrait painter can be attributed to her technical skill, combined with her ability to capture the character and personality of her sitters.
  • Who did Christina Robertson influence?
    Christina Robertson's direct influence is difficult to trace, but the broader artistic movements of her time, such as Neoclassicism and Romanticism, impacted many artists. Later, in California, a reliance on eastern models developed alongside an attempt at independence. This is similar to the relationship between the Hudson River School and European academies. California's geography had an enormous impact on its art. With perpetual sunshine and year-round outdoor painting conditions, the state became a mecca for plein air painters. Consequently, plein air Impressionism reigned supreme among still life artists well into the 1920s, long after the movement had faded elsewhere. Modernist still life manifestations tended to be idiosyncratic. Some artists developed hybrid forms of abstraction that melded Cubism, Orphism, Synchromism, and Futurism. Others created mystical, highly personal strains of still life, reflecting Southern California's propensity toward theosophy and other utopian cults.
  • Who influenced Christina Robertson?
    Christina Robertson (1796[1]-1854[1]) was a Scottish artist, primarily known for her portrait[1] paintings. While specific influences are not well documented, we can infer some artistic connections from her career. Robertson studied in Edinburgh at the Trustees' Academy, an institution that promoted a particular style of draughtsmanship. The Academy's emphasis on line and form likely shaped her early artistic development. Her later career as a portraitist suggests the influence of artists such as Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823[1]). Raeburn was the leading portrait painter in Edinburgh during Robertson's formative years. His work would have been highly visible to any aspiring portraitist in the city. Robertson adopted a similar focus on direct, realistic portrayals of her sitters. Robertson's time in London and, later, St Petersburg also exposed her to a wider range of artistic styles. While it is difficult to pinpoint exact influences, these experiences broadened her artistic horizons and contributed to the development of her mature style.
  • What is Christina Robertson's most famous work?
    Christina Robertson was a prolific portrait[1] painter; pinpointing one single "most famous" work is difficult. However, her 1842[1] portrait of Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia, is certainly among her best-known pieces. Robertson gained considerable recognition for her portraits of the Russian Imperial family and aristocracy. She moved to St. Petersburg in 1839, quickly becoming a sought-after artist within the Russian court. Her ability to capture likenesses, combined with a flattering style, made her popular with her high-society clientele. The portrait of Nicholas I is a full-length depiction of the Emperor in military attire. It demonstrates Robertson's skill in rendering textures and details, from the gold braid on the uniform to the Emperor's facial features. The painting was widely reproduced, further cementing Robertson's reputation and the image of Nicholas I in the public imagination. Other notable works include her portraits of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and other members of the Russian elite; these contributed significantly to her success and recognition.
  • What style or movement did Christina Robertson belong to?
    Christina Robertson (1796[1]-1854[1]) was a Scottish portrait[1] painter who primarily worked in the style of portraiture popular in the first half of the 19th century. This period saw a shift from the more theatrical and allegorical styles of earlier portraiture toward a focus on naturalism and the individual likeness of the sitter. Robertson's career developed during a time when Romanticism influenced art, with its emphasis on emotion, individualism, and the idealisation of the subject. However, her work is more closely aligned with Neoclassicism, which favoured order, clarity, and a certain degree of formality in portraiture. Robertson's portraits often feature elegant poses, attention to detail in costume and setting, and a refined approach to capturing the likeness and character of her subjects. She achieved considerable success as a portrait painter, particularly among the Russian aristocracy, and her style reflects the tastes and preferences of her clientele, who favoured sophisticated and flattering representations.

Sources

Where to See guide aggregates verified holdings of Christina Robertson's works across the following collections.

  1. [1] wikipedia Wikipedia: Christina Robertson Used for: biography.
  2. [2] book Graham-Dixon, Andrew, Caravaggio : a life sacred and profane Used for: biography.
  3. [3] book Penny Olsen, Collecting Ladies: Ferdinand Von Mueller and Women Botanical Artists Used for: biography.

Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-18. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.

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