Sokolov captured numerous people in his portraits, starting with fellow artists and ending with veterans of the
Patriotic War of 1812. Amongst those people individuals such as
Alexander Pushkin and
Vasily Zhukovsky, who were famous Russian poets, were included as well. Additionally, Sokolov received many commissions from various high-ranking persons. For example, the artist was invited by the imperial family to
Anichkov Palace where he painted a portrait of
Nicholas I of Russia's three-year-old son,
Alexander, and the work was a success with the family. Some of Sokolov's commissioners repeatedly requested works from him. One of the people who were painted three times was Ekaterina Pavlovna Bakunina. She was depicted in the years 1816, 1828 and 1834. In her first portrait which was done in pencil, she is depicted as a youthful lady. In the aquarelle work of 1828, Sokolov managed to convey the features that were socially desirable and attractive at that time in her portrait. As for the 1834 portrait, one can easily see how Sokolov depicted Bakunina (now Poltoratskaya) as a married woman. Over the course of his life he created over 500 artworks, and not only are they found in private collections, since they are extremely valuable, but also in famous government museums such as the
State Russian Museum, the
State Tretyakov Gallery, and many others. ==Technique==