Artwork

Portrait of Ivan F. Paskevich (1782-1856) (replica of the 1823 portrait)

Portrait of Ivan F. Paskevich (1782-1856) (replica of the 1823 portrait) is an oil painting by George Dawe. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. The oil painting presents a formal portrait of Ivan F.

About this work

Overview

The oil painting presents a formal portrait of Ivan F. Paskevich, a senior Russian commander of the early nineteenth century. Executed in 1824, the work is a replica of an earlier 1823 version and now belongs to the State Hermitage Museum’s collection. The composition shows the officer in full dress uniform, his posture dignified and his expression composed, set against a muted brown backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

Ivan Paskevich, later celebrated for his campaigns in the Caucasus and Poland, is depicted with dark, curled hair and a red-collared military coat.

Ivan Paskevich, later celebrated for his campaigns in the Caucasus and Poland, is depicted with dark, curled hair and a red-collared military coat. A series of medals adorn his chest, signalling his high rank and distinguished service. The pose—right hand resting on the lap, left arm crossing the torso—conveys both authority and restraint, typical of official portraiture intended to emphasize the subject’s status.

Technique & Style

Rendered in oil on canvas, the portrait displays the precise brushwork and careful modelling characteristic of George Dawe’s approach to military subjects. Fine attention to the texture of the uniform, the gleam of the medals, and the subtle gradations of the background create a realistic yet composed image. The limited palette and restrained lighting focus attention on the figure’s face and insignia.

History & Provenance

The original portrait was completed in 1823 by the English-born artist George Dawe, who had settled in Saint Petersburg in 1819. A year later he produced this replica, likely for a different patron or institutional setting. The painting entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s extensive collection of Russian military portraiture.

Context

Dawe earned a reputation in Russia for documenting the leaders of the Napoleonic Wars, creating more than three hundred portraits of generals. His work aligns with the early nineteenth‑century Russian tradition of commemorating military heroes through formal portraiture, serving both as personal commemoration and as visual reinforcement of imperial authority.

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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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