Portrait of Piotr Zheltukhin (1777-1829)

Dawe renders the fabric’s folds and the reflective surfaces of the medals with meticulous brushwork, capturing the play of light on metal and cloth. The portrait combines a realistic treatment of texture with a restrained, almost theatrical composition typical of early‑19th‑century Russian portraiture.

After relocating to Russia in 1819, Dawe quickly gained favor among the Saint Petersburg artistic community and literary circles, including Alexander Pushkin. He later contributed 329 portraits of Russian generals to the Winter Palace’s Military Gallery; this particular portrait of Zheltukhin entered the Hermitage’s holdings in the 19th century.

The painting belongs to a broader program of commemorating Russian military leaders following the defeat of Napoleon. Dawe’s work, commissioned by the imperial court, served both as a record of individual service and as visual reinforcement of the empire’s martial prestige.