Who painted Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd)?

Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd) was painted by Unknown in 1824.

Where can I see Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd)?

Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd) is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd)?

Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd) is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd)

Unknown , 1824

Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd) is an oil painting by the Realist artist Unknown. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. The work is an oil portrait of Andrey A.

About this work

Overview

5 cm, the half-length portrait depicts the Russian Lieutenant General Andrei Andreevich Zass in military dress.

Portrait of Andrey A. Zass (1776-1830) (2nd) is an oil on canvas painting executed in 1824 by the workshop of George Dawe. Measuring 70 by 62.5 cm, the half-length portrait depicts the Russian Lieutenant General Andrei Andreevich Zass in military dress. The painting forms part of the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, where it remains today under Hermitage work ID 39693.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts Andrei Andreevich Zass, also known as Gideon Heinrich von Sass, a Russian commander of the Napoleonic Wars. Born in Lifland gubernia in 1776, Zass had a distinguished military career, fighting in major campaigns from Poland in 1792 through the 1812 Borodino campaign and the 1813 actions in Germany, where he was wounded at Kulm. By the time of this portrait, he had attained the rank of lieutenant general and commanded cavalry divisions, receiving numerous awards for his service. The painting commemorates his status and martial achievements, visually documenting his identity and rank within the Imperial Russian Army.

History & Provenance

Created in 1824, the painting was produced in St. Petersburg as part of the extensive commission for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. While George Dawe oversaw the gallery, this specific work is attributed to his workshop, a common practice for the numerous general portraits required for the space. The creation date falls within the broader 1820 to 1828 timeframe established for the gallery's portraits. The canvas has remained in the Winter Palace collection and is currently held by the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Context

The portrait belongs to the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace, a monumental project initiated by Emperor Alexander I to commemorate the generals who fought in the Patriotic War of 1812 and the subsequent foreign campaigns. George Dawe was invited to Russia to paint the portraits, eventually producing hundreds of images with the significant aid of his workshop and Russian assistants. The workshop attribution of this painting reflects the collaborative nature of the gallery's creation, where assistants often executed portions of the uniform and background while Dawe or his close associates handled the faces. The inclusion of Zass among this pantheon solidified his legacy within the official narrative of Russian military triumphs against Napoleon.