Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 3 works by Pyotr Basin in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Pyotr Basin's most famous painting is Portrait of Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky (1833), whose original hangs in the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. Portrait of Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1834) and Portrait of Empress Dowager Yelizaveta Alekseevna (1831) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 3 works by Pyotr Basin in our catalog, the gallery presents the 3 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
The artwork is the Portrait of Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky, executed by the artist Pyotr Basin. This oil on canvas work dates to 1833. The subject of the portrait is Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky, a man who held the rank of Russian field marshal. His full name was Hans Karl Friedrich Anton Graf von Diebitsch-Sabalkanski.
The Portrait of Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov emerges from the canvas as a powerful encounter with history. Painted by Pyotr Basin between 1833 and 1834, the work captures the likeness of Mikhail Kutuzov, known formally as Prince Mikhail Ilarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov. He exists here not merely as a figure of the past, but as a presence defined by his immense responsibility. As a Russian soldier, General, and field marshal,…
The Portrait of Empress Dowager Yelizaveta Alekseevna is a significant work by the Russian artist Pyotr Basin. Painted in 1831, this oil on canvas portrait captures a moment of quietude and formal dignity. It is currently held within the collection of the State Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Pyotr Basin | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hermitage Museum |
Saint Petersburg | 3 | Portrait of Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky, Portrait of Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, Portrait of Empress Dowager Yelizaveta Alekseevna |
4 years, 1831 to 1834, hold Pyotr Basin's whole dated career on this page: a short one, seen here year by year through its most famous originals.
Pick a year to see its originals.
The Portrait of Empress Dowager Yelizaveta Alekseevna is a significant work by the Russian artist Pyotr Basin. Painted in 1831, this oil on canvas portrait captures a moment of quietude and formal dignity. It is currently held within the collection of the State Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork is the Portrait of Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky, executed by the artist Pyotr Basin. This oil on canvas work dates to 1833. The subject of the portrait is Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky, a man who held the rank of Russian field marshal. His full name was Hans Karl Friedrich Anton Graf von Diebitsch-Sabalkanski.
The Portrait of Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov emerges from the canvas as a powerful encounter with history. Painted by Pyotr Basin between 1833 and 1834, the work captures the likeness of Mikhail Kutuzov, known formally as Prince Mikhail Ilarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov. He exists here not merely as a figure of the past, but as a presence defined by his immense responsibility. As a Russian soldier, General, and field marshal,…
Portrait of Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky (1833), Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. Portrait of Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1834) and Portrait of Empress Dowager Yelizaveta Alekseevna (1831) come next.
40 years old: Portrait of Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky dates from 1833, and Pyotr Basin was born in 1793.
Our catalog holds 3 works by Pyotr Basin, dated from 1831 to 1834.
Mostly in Hermitage Museum (Saint Petersburg). The museum table above lists them all.
On this page, the earliest is Portrait of Empress Dowager Yelizaveta Alekseevna (1831) and the latest Portrait of Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1834).
Man (2), Military uniform (2) and Medals (2), across the 3 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 3 of the 3 works on this page.
Portrait of Count I.I.Dibich-Zabalkansky, Portrait of Field Marshal Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov and Portrait of Empress Dowager Yelizaveta Alekseevna: the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg holds 3 of the works on this page.
Pyotr Vasilievich Basin entered the world in Saint Petersburg in 1793, born into the family of a local civil servant. His path toward the brush began in earnest around 1811, when he attended drawing classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts. Under the guidance of Vasily Shebuyev, he refined his understanding of history painting and classical form. The Academy recognized his early promise with silver medals in 1813, followed by a major gold medal in 1818.
A decade of profound development awaited him in Italy. Between 1819 and 1830, a fellowship allowed Basin to live in Rome, where he immersed himself in the study of Old Masters and the works of Raphael. This period was not merely one of observation but of intense production; he created nearly one hundred paintings during his European residency. His talent for religious subject matter was solidified by his work Christ driving the money changers from the Temple, a piece that secured his grant.
Upon returning to Saint Petersburg in 1830, Basin transitioned from student to influential figure within the Russian art establishment. He was named an Academician in 1831 and eventually rose through the ranks to become a professor at the Imperial Academy of Arts. His career was marked by significant institutional responsibilities, including serving as a second-class professor in 1836 and a first-class professor in 1846. He held the title of Professor Emeritus from 1856.
His hand was visible in the very fabric of the city's most sacred spaces. Basin contributed to the restoration of the Winter Palace following the fire of 1837, painting over forty mythological and allegorical figures for its halls. His religious output remained his most enduring contribution, with large-scale works appearing in several major cathedrals:
The later years of Basin's life were defined by a physical struggle that eventually silenced his creative output. A progressive eye disease began to take hold in the 1870s, stripping him of the vision required for his meticulous work. By the end of 1870, he was entirely blind. This loss forced an early retirement from the active practice of painting, though his earlier sketches continued to provide models for others, such as Nikolay Koshelev, in decorating the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
He remained in Saint Petersburg until his death in 1877. He was laid to rest in the Novodevichy Cemetery, leaving behind a body of work that bridged the gap between classical tradition and the emerging Romantic period. His legacy is found in the quiet corners of Russian cathedrals and the academic lineage he helped establish through students like Nikolai Ge.
