Portrait of Alexey G. Shcherbatov (1776-1848)

Dawe employs chiaroscuro, using a dark, plain background to contrast with the vibrant, gleaming details of Shcherbatov's uniform and medals, achieved through meticulous oil painting. The lighting accentuates the subject's face and decorations.

Created during Dawe's successful period in Saint Petersburg after his relocation in 1819, the portrait demonstrates his established reputation among the Russian nobility. It is currently part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection.

As part of Dawe's Russian oeuvre, the portrait reflects the cultural exchange and artistic preferences of the early 19th-century Russian elite, who favored European-style portraiture to document their status.