CURLS by Wolfram Koeppe

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

The wig, armor, and facial features of this figure suggest the sitter was Alexander Menshikov, picked by Peter the Great in 1703 to be the general field marshal of all the Russians. However, “It’s a great mystery: who he is, who made it,” says curator Wolfram Koeppe. http://met.org/18aie4H

Get a complete, 360-degree view of the sculpture: http://met.org/15NKklX

Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673–1729) (detail) | probably shortly before 1704 | Russian, Saint Petersburg