"The depicted are sisters Giovannina and Amazilia Pacini, the foster daughters of Countess Y.P. Samoilova, with whom Bryullov had a close friendship.What is important in the painting The Rider is not so much the story as the action. The older of the two sisters abruptly stops her excited horse, though she remains absolutely calm. Wild force submitting to fragile beauty is one of the favourite themes of Romanticism. The girl’s face is perfectly beautiful. The Italian type of appearance was considered to be perfect in Bryullov’s day and the artist was delighted to use this to advantage. The refined play of colours, the sparkling fabrics – every detail literally speaks of the grandeur of this "best of all possible worlds".