Caravaque’s work is particularly interesting on account of its being the earliest surviving painted depiction of this key Russian victory in 1709. The artist most probably produced his portrayal of events from eye-witness accounts, since Caravaque himself arrived in Russia in 1716. He received Peter the Great’s instructions to paint the battles “of Poltava, against Lewenhaupt [at Lesnaya] and others” indirectly, through Alexander Menshikov, in May 1717. The list of the artist’s works from 1716–22 that he drew up himself indicates that he completed this picture in 1718.
Author:
Title:
The Battle of Poltava
Place:
Date:
Technique:
oil on canvas
Dimensions:
281x487 cm
Acquisition date:
Entered the Hermitage in 1946; handed over from the State Tretyakov Gallery
Inventory Number:
ЭРЖ-1913
Category:
Collection:
Subcollection:
