Who painted Portrait of Georgy A. Emanuel (1774-1837)?

Portrait of Georgy A. Emanuel (1774-1837) was painted by George Dawe in 1821.

Where can I see Portrait of Georgy A. Emanuel (1774-1837)?

Portrait of Georgy A. Emanuel (1774-1837) is held by Hermitage Museum.

Artwork

Portrait of Georgy A. Emanuel (1774-1837)

Portrait of Georgy A. Emanuel (1774-1837) is an oil painting by George Dawe. It dates from 1821 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Dawe, an English painter who had settled in Saint Petersburg, created the work while establishing his reputation as a portraitist for the Russian elite.

George Dawe’s 1821 oil portrait presents Georgij Arsenijevič Emmanuel, a Russian officer active during the Napoleonic wars. The sitter is rendered in a dark uniform with gold epaulettes, medals and a red collar, set against a warm, muted background. Dawe, an English painter who had settled in Saint Petersburg, created the work while establishing his reputation as a portraitist for the Russian elite.

Subject & Meaning

Emmanuel’s solemn expression and formal attire convey the dignity expected of a military figure of his era. The inclusion of medals and the precise rendering of his uniform underscore his service and status, reflecting the broader Russian emphasis on honor and loyalty during the turbulent years following Napoleon’s invasion.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the painting employs a restrained palette of dark tones punctuated by gold highlights, allowing the subject’s features to emerge with clarity. Dawe’s brushwork is smooth in the facial details yet looser in the background, creating a subtle contrast between the figure’s solidity and the atmospheric setting.

History & Provenance

After completing the portrait in Saint Petersburg, Dawe incorporated it into his extensive output for the Russian court, which included 329 portraits for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. The work eventually entered the State Hermitage Museum’s collection, where it remains part of the museum’s representation of early‑19th‑century Russian portraiture.

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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