Masterfully portrait of a young Russian peasant girl with harmonic was executed in the first half of 19th century. The age of the work is verified on the basis of the age of paints as well as the age and condition of the canvas . It's known that in the Province State Museum in Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) is completely identical portrait by renowed Russian painter Alexey Venetsianov (almost the same dimensions). On the basis of comparing the quality and stylistic features of this two portraits , we can conclude that our painting can be the author´s version of Venetsianov , but not a copy of one of his pupils. As is known, many artists repeated own most popular works in order of private collectors. For comparison see image of the identical work from the Museum of Nizhny Novgord on our additional photo.

Here is quatation about this painting "Girl with harmonic" in Gorky museum (now Nizhny Novgorod) from the magazine"Ogonjok":

"...In Museum of Gorky are two works by Alexei Gavrilovic Venetsianov " Sleeping Girl " and " Girl with a harmonic", both painted in the 1840s, in the last years of the artist´s life. Fighting again the academical traditions for the art of the new hero- muzhik- undermined the power of the master. In his works of last years bears the stamp of fatigue , but that can not be said about " The girl with an harmonic"- here the artist creates a lively, provocative portrait...".

Literature: artist lexicons by Thieme/Becker (in German), 1999,Leipzig; In Russian: Solovjev V.D. " Russian Artists of 18-20th centuries", 2005; Kondakoff " Jub.Hand book of St.Petersburg Academy 1764-1914", cataloque of Province State Art Museum in Nizhny Novgorod.

Inscription: unsigned.

Technique: oil on canvas, laid down later on cardboard. Original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 11 1/2" x h 15 3/4" ( 29,3 x 40 cm ); framed w 17 1/8" x h 21 1/4" (43,5 x 54 cm).

Condition: in good condition, no retouchings or paintlosses.