First, knowing the needed size and the distance the portrait will be from the audience will be useful, because that will allow us to help you evaluate the required level of detail.
Keep in mind that acrylic paint only really became available in the 1950s, a good hundred years after your play is set. Most major paintings in 1850s Russia were oil on canvas.
Oil paintings become yellower over time, and can develop craquelure as others have mentioned above. I like to use a coat or two of amber shellac to make things yellower and older looking.
All good stuff to know. The OP did say it was a portrait, which wouldn't have been painted in the style of an Icon. Other than Icons, oil painting was pretty universal during this time period in this part of the world.Since the OP did not specify OIL painting, it could be Tempera (egg & acid based). Tempera was common in Russian Inconography AND it is much cheaper than oils. Think of it this way, the "The Last Supper" frescoe is tempera on plaster and is many centuries old (side note: if ever in Milan go see it at the Santa Maria del Grazie). It does not normall yellow as it tends to become more powdery and fade. Oh yeah, never wash with water. I learned that one the hard way on a 60 yo tempera painting I had.
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