Portrait of Tsesarevna Anna Petrovna
1715 (?)
- oil on canvas. 65 x 53 (oval)
Received in 1931 from the State Russian Museum- State Tretyakov Gallery
Anna Petrovna (February 7, 1708 – May 15, 1728) Tsarevna, daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine Alexeyevna, awarded the title of Tsesarevna on December 23, 1721. On May 21, 1725 she married Duke Charles Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp (April 30, 1700 – June 18, 1739). She had a son, Peter (February 21, 1728 – July 2, 1762), future Emperor Peter III, who would succeed to the throne after Elizabeth Petrovna (1741 – 1761).
The portrait was first attributed to Ivan Nikitin in 1940. Many researchers believe that the attribution is supported by the stylistic resemblance to a portrait of Praskovia Ioannovna. Most art historians say that the portrait was painted before 1716; however some researchers believe that a more accurate date of the portrait completion is 1715.