Portrait of Pavel P. Pahlen (1775-1834) (2nd)

Dawe employs a realistic approach typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture, balancing chiaroscuro to highlight the subject’s facial features while rendering the fabric’s texture with precise brushwork. The contrast between the warm flesh tones and the darker, richly detailed uniform creates visual depth, and the muted background keeps attention on the figure.

Created while Dawe was active in Saint Petersburg, the painting forms part of his extensive series of military portraits commissioned for the Winter Palace’s Military Gallery, which eventually included 329 generals. Today the work belongs to the State Hermitage Museum’s collection, where it remains on public display.

Dawe, an English artist trained in an engraving family, gained patronage among Russian elites during his stay in the capital. His portraits served both documentary and commemorative purposes, reflecting the Russian Empire’s emphasis on celebrating its military leadership after the Napoleonic wars.