Portrait of Alexander I. Kutaisov (1784-1812)

Dawe employs a smooth, polished brushwork typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture, achieving a crisp rendering of the uniform’s textures and the subject’s neatly arranged curls and moustache. The limited palette—dark greens, blacks, reds, and golds—focuses attention on the figure, while subtle chiaroscuro models his facial features without dramatic lighting.

An English portraitist who moved to Saint Petersburg in 1819, Dawe quickly attracted patronage from Russian elites. He completed this portrait three years after Kutaisov’s death, likely at the request of the officer’s family or military circle. The painting entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display.