George Dawe was an English portrait artist who is best known for his work in Russia, particularly his portraits of Russian generals involved in the Napoleonic Wars. He was born on February 8, 1781, in London. His father, Philip Dawe, was an artist who had been a mezzotint engraver. George Dawe became an accomplished artist in his own right and was admitted to the Royal Academy schools in 1796, where he won a silver medal for drawing.
Dawe's early work included dramatic scenes from the Bible and from British history, but he primarily made his name as a portraitist. In 1814, he was elected as an associate member of the Royal Academy and became a full member in 1818. His career took a significant turn when he traveled to St. Petersburg in 1819. Invited by Czar Alexander I of Russia, Dawe was commissioned to paint a large number of portraits for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. This gallery was created to honor the Russian generals who had been instrumental in defeating Napoleon.
Over the next several years, Dawe, with the help of his assistants, produced over 300 portraits for the gallery. These works were highly regarded for their quality and the insight they provided into the personalities of the sitters. Dawe was well-received in Russian society and earned numerous honors, including the title of Academician at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg.
Dawe's time in Russia was the most productive period of his career. He not only painted portraits for the Military Gallery but also completed a number of private commissions for Russian nobility. Unfortunately, his health began to decline, and he returned to England in 1828. George Dawe died on October 15, 1829, in Kentish Town, London. His legacy endures through the vast collection of portraits that offer a window into an important era of Russian and European history.
