“This portrait of Dmitriy Petrovich Voeykov draws you in with its direct gaze and thoughtful expression, a compelling example of Russian Romanticism's focus on individual character.”
Dmitriy Petrovich Voeykov, a man of letters and a state councilor, gazes directly out at us, his expression thoughtful and composed. Painted in 1842, this portrait captures Voeykov at a moment of quiet dignity, his posture relaxed yet formal. He wears a dark coat, its simple cut emphasizing his presence rather than any elaborate fashion. The warm, muted tones of the background suggest an intimate setting, perhaps his study, allowing the focus to remain entirely on the sitter. This work, created by Vasily Andreevich Tropinin, a painter who himself spent much of his life as a serf before gaining freedom, reflects the Romantic era's interest in individual character and psychological depth, presenting a figure who seems to invite contemplation rather than mere admiration.
- Artist
- Vasily Andreevich Tropinin
- Date
- 1842
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Tretyakov Gallery
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The subtle play of light on Voeykov's face, highlighting his forehead and cheekbones.
The crisp white of his shirt collar, a small but sharp detail against his dark coat.
The way his left hand rests gently, suggesting a moment of pause.
The soft, diffused background, keeping the attention on the sitter.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Dmitriy Petrovich Voeykov — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Vasily Andreevich Tropinin
1776–1857 · Russian EmpireA serf who secretly studied art and went on to paint over 3,000 portraits — including Russia's greatest poet.
Further Works by Tropinin
Portrait of A. V. Tropinin
1818 · Tretyakov Gallery
Lace-maker
1823 · Tretyakov Gallery
Portrait of K.G.Ravich
1823 · Tretyakov Gallery
Portrait of Andrei Mikhailovich Bolotov
1838 · Tretyakov Gallery
Boy with an axe
1810 · Belarusian National Arts Museum
The Peasant Boy with a Hatchet
1810 · Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts
Portrait of Artemy Lazarev (1791-1813), the Poruchik of the Life Guards Hussars Regiment
1819 · Hermitage Museum
Portrait of an Ukrainian peasant.
1820 · National Museum in Warsaw
More works to explore
Beyond Tropinin: works from the same years.
Same era · 1820s–1850s
The Estuary Farm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1831 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth
J. M. W. Turner · 1842 · National Gallery
Same era · 1820s–1850s
The Virgin Adoring the Host
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1841 · Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Young Woman
Jean-François Millet · 1844 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Hamlet and Horatio in the Graveyard
Eugène Delacroix · 1839 · Department of Paintings of the Louvre
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Wooded Landscape
Gustave Courbet · 1848 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Mount Chocorua and Moat Mountain from North Conway
William Hart · 1850
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh · 1853 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Woman in a Blue Dress
School of William Matthew Prior · 1840 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Designs for a Decorated Dish, or Platter, and a Biscuit Barrel
Alfred Henry Forrester [Alfred Crowquill] · 1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1820s–1850s
Mr. James Mackie
Samuel Alcock & Company · 1830 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1820s–1850s
The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge)
John Philip Simpson · 1827 · Art Institute of Chicago
