Portrait of Surikov's niece Tatyana Domozhilova in a mosquito net, 1891

In the Surikov Room (Room 28) of the Tretyakov Gallery, a small portrait of a woman in an unusual headdress catches the eye; it turns out to be not a veil but a mosquito net. It is a portrait of Surikov's niece Tatyana Kapitonovna Domozhilova in traditional Siberian dress.

The portrait was painted in 1891, as part of a series of portraits of Siberian beauties, while Surikov was working on studies for the painting "The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak".

The picture is otherwise known as "Girl in a Net".

Domozhilova was the daughter of Surikov's eldest half-sister. Through her father she may descend from one of the indigenous small-numbered peoples. She was a schoolteacher and sat for several canvases by her uncle.

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Portrait of Surikov's niece Tatyana Domozhilova in a mosquito net, 1891

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