Dmitry Levitsky was one of the most important and versatile artists of the 18th century. His brilliant, refined portraits most fully reflected the philosophical and aesthetic conceptions of the second half of the century, and the belief in the power of reason and integrity and nobility of human nature. Levistky’s search for more life and naturalness found expression in the portrayal of Smolny girls, where the artist introduced the models in action so as best to display their character traits. In the double portrait of Ye. N.Khovanskaya and Ye. N. Khrushchova the girls are acting out a pastoral scene: Khrushchova is playing a shepherd-boy and Khovanskaya is a shepherdess. Levitsky based the portrait on the juxtaposition of girls’ individual qualities: Khovanskaya is shy, timid and a little constrained in her movements; Khrushchova is more forward, with a pert smile and a playful gesture. You see a conventional landscape background with the human subject predominating. The piece of work is characterized by decorative colouring and subtle use of refined forms.
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