Roman Nikitin depicts Maria Stroganova, a member of the famous family – wealthy patrons and industrial entrepreneurs, and the wife of the mining magnate Grigory Stroganov. She holds a miniature portrait of Peter the Great, symbolizing her family’s closeness to the imperial court and the emperor’s personal favor. By his permission, she was allowed to wear traditional Russian dress at court — a rare mark of respect for national custom during an age of Westernization and reform.
The portrait reflects the early stage of Russian secular (non-religious) art, where new realism combines with Baroque splendor. Nikitin creates an image that unites dignity and calm with a sense of living presence, capturing the transition from old traditions to a new era.