Portrait of Vladimir Apraksin Nikifor Krylov 1829 Oil on canvas This portrait of Count Apraksin was created by the artist Nikifor Krylov, a member of the Academy of Arts and pupil of the celebrated Russian artist Alexey Venetsianov. Count Apraksin (1896-1833) had been brought up and lived at his grandmother's house until he married Countess Sophia Tolstaya. His grandmother was Princess Natalia Golitzina, known as "Princess Moustache" in St. Petersburg high society. The Count's friends loved him for his kindness and, according to contemporaries, he was "a very gay, lively, clever, and well-educated person." He participated in the Patriotic War of 1812 and Russian campaigns in 1813 to 1814, all against Napoleon. He was rewarded for his participation in the battles at Drezden and Kulma. In 1814, the Count was transferred to the Cavalry. In the portrait, he is depicted in the uniform of the Colonel of the Cavalry Life Guards Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1824.