Prince Ivan Zhevakhov

Dawe employs a meticulous handling of light, modeling Zhevakhov’s facial features with subtle chiaroscuro that gives the portrait a three‑dimensional quality. The brushwork is smooth in the flesh tones, while the background is rendered with broader, textured strokes, a contrast that draws the viewer’s eye to the detailed rendering of the uniform and insignia.

After relocating to Saint Petersburg in 1819, Dawe quickly became a favored portraitist among the Russian elite, receiving commissions from both the aristocracy and the imperial court. The painting entered the Hermitage’s collection in the 19th century and remains part of its permanent display of early‑19th‑century portraiture.