The Portrait of Georg Friedrich Parrot: Lost, Found and Reinterpreted
The Portrait of Georg Friedrich Parrot: Lost, Found and Reinterpreted

Summary/Abstract: The portrait painting by F. G. von Kügelgen has been our main visual evidence about the appearance of the famous rector and professor of physics of the University of Tartu. The painting itself became lost at the very beginning of the 20th century and was known mainly after its lithographed reproduction. The original portrait painting was found by a lucky chance in the US A in 2016 and was acquired by the University of Tartu. The article follows and reconstructs a rather intriguing provenance story of this symbolic and significant painting. In addition to the questions how the portrait of the rector was received in the university after its commission at the beginning of the 19th century, a new interpretation of the portrait focusing on the composition and pose of the depicted person will be offered. Opening up the historical and art historical context of the portrait and comparing its different versions should also lead to a better understanding of the role of artworks in academic institutions.

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