Portrait of Mikhail S. Vorontsov (1782-1856)

Dawe employs a muted brown background to highlight Vorontsov's figure, with careful attention to the textures of his uniform and the subtlety of his facial expression, characteristic of Dawe's portraiture style.

Created in 1822, the portrait is part of a series by Dawe featuring Russian generals from the Napoleonic Wars. Dawe, having relocated to Saint Petersburg in 1819, received acclaim from local artistic and literary circles, including from Alexander Pushkin.

The painting reflects the cultural exchange and artistic patronage prevalent during Dawe's time in Saint Petersburg, where British artistic influences merged with Russian subjects of historical significance.

As one of Dawe's notable works from his Russian period, the portrait contributes to the Hermitage's collection of early 19th-century European portraiture, offering insight into the era's military elite and artistic collaborations.