Who painted Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851)?

Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851) was painted by George Dawe in 1819.

Where can I see Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851)?

Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851) is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851)?

Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851) is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851)

George Dawe , 1819

Portrait of Fyodor V. Driesen (1781-1851) is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist George Dawe. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Executed in 1819, this oil portrait records Fyodor Vasilyevich Driesen, a Russian officer of Baltic-German descent.

About this work

Overview

Executed in 1819, this oil portrait records Fyodor Vasilyevich Driesen, a Russian officer of Baltic-German descent. George Dawe, an English painter then newly arrived in Saint Petersburg, rendered the subject in a restrained yet precise manner, characteristic of early nineteenth-century portraiture in imperial Russia.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is presented in full-dress uniform, its gold braid and decorations signaling senior military rank. Medals arrayed across the chest denote specific campaigns or honors, while the neutral background directs attention to the face, inviting contemplation of Driesen’s service and character rather than allegorical embellishment.

Technique & Style

Dawe employed a smooth, controlled brushstroke to delineate fabric and metal, contrasting the dark wool of the uniform with luminous gold accents. Subtle chiaroscuro models the face, softening contours without dramatic shadow. The restrained palette and planar composition align with British Romantic portrait conventions adapted to Russian court taste.

History & Provenance

Commissioned shortly after Dawe’s relocation to Saint Petersburg, the portrait entered the imperial collections and eventually passed to the State Hermitage Museum. Its creation coincided with Dawe’s larger project for the Winter Palace’s Military Gallery, where he portrayed numerous officers from the Napoleonic Wars.

Context

During the 1810s and 1820s, Russian aristocracy favored European artists for portraiture, particularly those versed in British and French conventions. Dawe’s arrival capitalized on this demand, producing likenesses that balanced individual presence with institutional prestige for military patrons.

Portrait of Grigory V. Rosen (1782-1841) (1st), Unknown

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.