Countess M.F. Sheremetev 'Lady in Pearls

At the Hermitage, the curators were very kind in obtaining photographs of 5 additional Stember paintings that were not currently on display (3 were) and this painting was one( I.D. # 1397)

The Sheremetev family was one of the wealthiest and most influential noble families of Russia.The  Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow is named after the family.

See photograph # 12 to see the portrait in it's frame in Stember's studio inSt. Petersburg.  Notice it's life-size proportions.  In the family album, this painting says it was painted in 1909, not 1908.

Note the family connection to Count Sheremetev, # 191 on this site.