Portrait of Emperor Peter I
1721
Peter I (the Great; 1672–1725) was the younger son of the Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. He became Tsar in 1682 (until 1696, he ruled jointly with his brother Ivan V). From 1721, he was the first Emperor of All the Russias.
No portraits identical to this one exist. Initially the portrait was thought to be close to one of Kupetsky’s works, but the hypothesis was never confirmed. The painting differs from other Musikiysky’s works by its unusual form (prolonged oval) and included details. Peter is depicted wearing a suit of armor and an ermine-lined raspberry-red mantle, having a ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called over his shoulder. The edge of a gold star can be seen on the mantle. However, an embroidered star of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called should be silver.