Portrait of the composer Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936) Ilya Repin (1844-1930)

This is a formal, waist-up portrait of a young man, identified as the composer Alexander Glazunov. He is dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and dark tie, suggesting a professional and perhaps early career artist. The man is looking directly at the viewer with a neutral, almost serious expression. His hair is neatly parted and styled, and he has a faint mustache.
His right hand is casually tucked into his vest or trousers, a pose that can imply confidence or perhaps a touch of informality within the formal setting. The background is a deep, rich red, a color that can symbolize passion, power, or artistic intensity, and it serves to make the subject stand out prominently.
The painting is signed and dated 1887 in the lower left corner, placing Glazunov at a young age, likely early in his prolific career as a composer, conductor, and influential professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he would later become director. The overall tone of the portrait is one of respect and affirmation of his burgeoning status as a significant figure in Russian music.