Alexander Petrovich Sokolov: A Legacy of Watercolor Portraits Alexander Petrovich Sokolov (1829 – 1913) stands as a significant figure in late 19th-century Russian art, primarily celebrated for his masterful watercolor portraits that captured the elegance and dignity of aristocratic subjects—particularly women—and the grandeur of imperial ceremonies. Born into an artistic lineage steeped in tradition, Sokolov’s artistic journey was profoundly shaped by his father, Pyotr Sokolov, a celebrated portrait painter himself, establishing him within a family renowned for its artistic prowess. His bro…