Portrait of Andrei Mikhailovich Bolotov

Andrei Mikhailovich Bolotov, a writer and memoirist of the Russian Enlightenment, looks directly out at us, his gaze both gentle and intelligent. Painted in 1838, the year he turned 95, this portrait captures a man of remarkable longevity and intellect. He wears a simple, dark coat, its sober tone contrasting with the subtle warmth of his complexion and the soft, almost rosy glow on his cheekbones. The artist, Vasily Tropinin, renders Bolotov's age with a sympathetic hand, showing the texture of his skin and the slight thinning of his white hair without diminishing his dignity. The setting is sparse, focusing all attention on Bolotov's presence and his quiet wisdom, a testament to a life well-lived and observed during a period of significant change in Russia.