Portrait of Denis Diderot

Why it's great

Denis Diderot, the editor of the Encyclopédie, which tried to collect all of human knowledge in one set of books. Dmitry Levitzky painted him in 1773, when Catherine the Great invited the philosopher to Russia.

🏛️ Part of history

The Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment (1600–1789) — Denis Diderot, the editor of the Encyclopédie, which tried to collect all of human knowledge in one set of books.

Where to see it

📍 Location not recordedWe couldn't confirm where it hangs today. Museums sometimes move or lend paintings, so check the museum's website before you travel.

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 997 × 1,200 px · 1.2 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Dmitry Levitzky

1735–1822 · born in Kyiv · died in Saint Petersburg

Dmitry Levitzky was a Russian painter born in Kyiv in 1735. He became the leading portrait painter in Saint Petersburg during the reign of Catherine the Great, painting nobles and thinkers, including Diderot. He died in Saint Petersburg in 1822.