Who painted Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy?

Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy was painted by George Dawe in 1825.

Where can I see Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy?

Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy?

Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy

George Dawe , 1825

Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist George Dawe. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Count Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy is a portrait painted in oil by George Dawe in 1825, now housed in the State Hermitage Museum. The work captures the likeness of its namesake, a figure of significance, through a formal and detailed representation.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Count Alexander Ivanovich Osterman-Tolstoy, is portrayed in attire indicative of his importance, including a medal and formal wear. His serious expression and the emphasis on his face and clothing underscore his stature.

Technique & Style

Dawe employs a straightforward, representational approach with oil paint, characteristic of his portraiture style. A plain brown background focuses attention on the subject, while the rendering of textures (e.g., the worn coat cuffs) adds depth.

History & Provenance

Commissioned during Dawe's productive period in Saint Petersburg, where he was acclaimed by the Russian artistic elite (including Pushkin), the painting is part of a broader body of work that includes numerous portraits of Russian military leaders for the Winter Palace.

Context

Created amidst Dawe's association with the Russian nobility and military, the portrait reflects the artistic patronage and cultural exchange of early 19th-century Saint Petersburg, where British artists like Dawe found prominence.

Portrait of Fyodor I. Masolov (17671-1844), George Dawe

Artist & collection

Artist

George Dawe

George Dawe (6 February 1781 – 15 October 1829) was an English portraitist who painted 329 portraits of Russian generals active during Napoleon's invasion of Russia for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace.