Portrait of the Volkonsky children with the arap Karl Pavlovich Bryullov (1799-1852)

The painting depicts a young girl, seemingly of noble birth, standing gracefully and holding onto a railing. She is adorned in an elaborate red and white gown, complete with golden embroidery, a veil, and a halo-like headdress, suggesting an elevated or perhaps allegorical status. To her left, a baby sits, held by a springer spaniel. The baby is dressed in a similarly luxurious infants attire.
Behind a decorative metal fence and a pillar, a man with dark skin, wearing a turban and ornate clothing, is visible. His presence, framed by the architecture and the lush greenery of the setting, adds a layer of exoticism and perhaps suggests a narrative of travel or international connections.
The overall scene is one of opulence and privileged childhood. The rich fabrics, the presence of animals, and the detailed attire contribute to an impression of wealth and status. The inclusion of the dark-skinned man, while visually striking, can be interpreted through the lens of historical representations of exotic others in European art, often as symbols of distant lands or as domestic servants, reflecting the colonial attitudes of the era. The painting, therefore, not only portrays the Volkonsky children but also offers a glimpse into the social structures and cultural perceptions of the time.