History and culture: A portrait of Paul I had been returned to the Pavlovsk State National Park and Museum

Lately many artworks that were considered lost for decades have returned to the collection of Pavlovsk museum. In May 2015 the Pavlovsk State National Park and Museum received as a gift of the beautiful, Russian made, the XVIII century infant portrait of Grand Duke Paul Petrovich. This gift is tremendously valuable and important for Pavlovsk, as the portrait that ascends from the historical collection of the Pavlovsk Palace.

From the middle of the XIX century, during XIX-XX centuries this portrait is mentioned in all accounting documents of Pavlovsk Palace. However, for unknown reasons, the portrait was not evacuated at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and stayed in the palace during the Nazi occupation. Portrait considered missing and was included into the published in 2000 summary catalog of cultural property that were stolen and lost during the Second World War.

The portrait, which dates from the late 1750s — the early 1760s, depicts the Grand Duke Paul Petrovich in his infancy, in the period from 1 to 3 years. The portrait was painted by an unknown Russian artist of the second half of the XVIII century.

Recorded at the museum’s accounting system of Pavlovsk State National Park and Museum child portrait of Grand Duke Paul will be carefully studied and will take its rightful place in the museum.