Portrait of a woman

This is a typical work by an artist from the circle of Jan Rustem (ca. 1762–1835), showing a noblewoman dressed in clothes of the Empire style. It is distinguished by its close attention to detail, its deep psychological insight, and features of 19th-century Neo-Classical art verging on Biedermeier. Although the woman depicted is idealised, sublimated and endowed with features of Antique civilisation, she is quite earthly at the same time. The composition is harmonious and balanced, the colouring is bright and temperate. All these characteristics, which are features of Rustem’s work, were taken up by his pupils, many of whom distinguished themselves in Lithuania in the middle and the second half of the 19th century, such as Jan Damel, Wincenty Dmochowski, Kanuty Rusiecky, Wincenty Smokowski.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album MORE THAN JUST BEAUTY (2012). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, RES PUBLICA (2018). Compiler and author Rūta Janonienė
Expositions: “More Than Just Beauty: The Image of Woman in the LAWIN collection”, 12 October – 11 November 2012, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius. "The Age of Romanticism", 11 September 2019 – 6 August 2020, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curator Rūta Janonienė.

This is a typical work by an artist from the circle of Jan Rustem (ca. 1762–1835), showing a noblewoman dressed in clothes of the Empire style. It is distinguished by its close attention to detail, its deep psychological insight, and features of 19th-century Neo-Classical art verging on Biedermeier. Although the woman depicted is idealised, sublimated and endowed with features of Antique civilisation, she is quite earthly at the same time. The composition is harmonious and balanced, the colouring is bright and temperate. All these characteristics, which are features of Rustem’s work, were taken up by his pupils, many of whom distinguished themselves in Lithuania in the middle and the second half of the 19th century, such as Jan Damel, Wincenty Dmochowski, Kanuty Rusiecky, Wincenty Smokowski.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album MORE THAN JUST BEAUTY (2012). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, RES PUBLICA (2018). Compiler and author Rūta Janonienė
Expositions: “More Than Just Beauty: The Image of Woman in the LAWIN collection”, 12 October – 11 November 2012, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius. "The Age of Romanticism", 11 September 2019 – 6 August 2020, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curator Rūta Janonienė.