Portret van Peter John Potemkin

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

This engraving, created by the Dutch artist Abraham Bloteling in 1682, captures a formal portrait of Peter John Potemkin, a Russian diplomat active during a period of expanding European relations with the Russian court. Bloteling, renowned for his precise reproductive engravings, worked within the Dutch Golden Age tradition, where printmaking flourished as a means to document notable figures and distribute images across borders. The modest scale—190 by 142 millimeters—suggests it was designed for intimate viewing or inclusion in print collections. Engraving as a medium allowed for fine detail and wide circulation, making portraits like this accessible beyond elite circles. Bloteling’s technique likely emphasizes the sitter’s status through careful line work and shading, typical of Baroque portraiture that blended realism with dignified composure. The collector’s mark on the reverse (Lugt 2228) further hints at its journey through centuries of appreciation by print enthusiasts. Such works highlight the interconnected world of 17th-century diplomacy and art, where images served both as personal mementos and tools of cultural exchange.

About the Artist

Abraham Bloteling · 1640–1690

Comment on works: portraits; painter, engraver