Who painted Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855)?

Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855) was painted by George Dawe in 1822.

Where can I see Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855)?

Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855) is held by Hermitage Museum.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855)?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855)

George Dawe , 1822

Portrait of Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776-1855) is an oil painting by George Dawe. It dates from 1822 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Dawe’s composition emphasizes the dignified bearing of the subject, whose calm expression and neatly arranged curls convey a sense of disciplined authority.

George Dawe’s 1822 oil portrait presents Adam P. Ozharovsky, a Russian officer, in a tightly rendered half‑length format. The sitter is shown against a dark, unadorned backdrop that concentrates attention on his face and the elaborate military accoutrements he wears. Dawe’s composition emphasizes the dignified bearing of the subject, whose calm expression and neatly arranged curls convey a sense of disciplined authority.

Subject & Meaning

Adam P. Ozharovsky (1776‑1855) served as a high‑ranking officer during the period of the Napoleonic Wars, a time when Russia celebrated its military heroes. The profusion of medals and ribbons on his dark uniform signals official recognition of his service, while the restrained pose suggests personal modesty despite his decorated status.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the portrait demonstrates Dawe’s precise brushwork and attention to surface texture, especially in the metallic sheen of the medals and the crispness of the gold‑trimmed collar. The limited palette of dark tones and the subtle modeling of the face create a realistic yet formal representation typical of early‑19th‑century Russian portraiture.

History & Provenance

Dawe, an English artist who settled in Saint Petersburg in 1819, was commissioned to depict notable figures for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. This work, painted in 1822, entered the State Hermitage Museum’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of portraits of Russian military elites.

Context

The portrait belongs to a broader series of images documenting Russian commanders who resisted Napoleon’s invasion. Dawe’s role in the Winter Palace project placed him among the few foreign artists trusted to record the nation’s military heritage, reflecting both his technical skill and his integration into Russian artistic circles.

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Artist & collection

Artist

George Dawe

George Dawe (6 February 1781 – 15 October 1829) was an English portraitist who painted 329 portraits of Russian generals active during Napoleon's invasion of Russia for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace.

Museum

Hermitage Museum

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