Author: Levitsky Dmitry Grigorievich. 1735-1825
Creation date: 1773
Genre: Painting
Prokofiev Akinfievich Demidov (1710-1786) - philanthropist and patron, the guardian of the Moscow-education house, where he founded later a Commercial College in1772. Levitsky skillfully uses the language of allegory to translate the idea of educating people into people potential of doing public good. Demidov is depicted in the casual attire, which is very unusual for a parade style of portrait, and rather represents that the character is not in serves and does not have titles. With right hand he points to the flowering plants and the building of the Education House, inhabitants of which, just as flowers, are in need of care.