Melgunov, Alexei Petrovich, Governor-General Yaroslavl and Vologda 1795

Dmitry Levitzky painted Alexei Petrovich Melgunov, Governor-General of Yaroslavl and Vologda, immortalizing a man of power in oils. Levitsky was the leading portrait painter of the Russian Enlightenment, when the country’s institutions were beginning to resemble those of other European states. Here, Melgunov is adorned with medals and ribbons, visual cues that signify status and service to the state. Melgunov’s confident gaze and composed posture speak to the consolidation of imperial power in Russia during the 18th century. The Governor-General would have served at the pleasure of the Tsar, and this image is not only a portrait of a man, but also the embodiment of a system of governance. Understanding the context of this portrait requires a look at the social and political structures of Imperial Russia, as well as study of the systems of patronage that supported artists like Levitzky. It is through such historical inquiry that the full meaning of this representation can be understood.