Portrait of Empress Elizabeth

portrait

One of the most distinguished portraitists of his day, Tocqué was invited to St. Petersburg to paint a gala portrait of the Russian empress. After a few sittings sin the palace, the artist produced a living image of Elizabeth, who is shown with the attributes of the monarchy: the orb and sceptre, as well as the badge and sash of the Order of St.

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About the Artist

Louis Tocqué

1696 – 1772

French portrait painter who was the pupil and son-in-law of Nattier (who was good at painting pretty women, while Tocqué was happier with plain ones). He admired Rigaud and Largillierre and adapted their styles, and Nattier's, to the requirements of his own time. He worked in Paris except for a trip to St Petersburg and Copenhagen (1756-59) and a second trip to Copenhagen in 1769.

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