Unique portrait of Georgian King Teimuraz II returns to country
A gravure (left) created after the recently discovered original portrait (right) of King Teimuraz II of Georgia. Photo: Art Palace.
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An 18th century painting of Georgia’s King Teimuraz II (1700-1762), considered lost for much of its history, will return to the country after being unveiled by an international gallery and obtained by Tbilisi’s Art Palace museum.
Created in 1761 at the Russian Imperial court, the portrait will be exhibited at the venue on October 25-26, with public interest already peaking for the work.
It was purchased by Art Palace — with financial support of former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s fund — for 38,400 USD from 1stdibs, a major online marketplace.
The return of the art piece to Georgia has been hailed as “the highest value exhibit” of the country’s historical royal dynasties that has been brought back to it after the post-1991 independence.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia also said the painting marks only the fourth portrait of a Georgian king, created during their time and preserved to this day.
Its return is also notable for the fate of the King of the Kingdoms of Kakheti and Kartli, who died through illness while on a diplomatic trip to Russia, and thus never returned to his country.
While on his 1761 visit, Teimuraz II was painted by Aleksandr Antropov (1716-1795), one of the most notable of the Imperial Court’s portrait artists.
A gravure painting of the Georgian king was created during the same period in Russia, and was considered his earliest artistic representation still preserved to this day, until the discovery of the painting.
The original portrait was exhibited for sale by 1stdibs earlier this month, and priced at 186,000 USD.
Experts noted the identical clothing and accessories in the painting and on the king’s deceased body, confirming the authenticity of the work and the unique character of the discovery.
The importance of the work is also augmented by the identity of its author, a well-known painter whose works are only preserved in low numbers.
The two-day display of the painting at Art Palace will be open to public.