Dmitry Dmitrievich Kuruta, Russian General 

George Dawe painted this portrait of Dmitry Dmitrievich Kuruta, a Russian General. It is one of hundreds of portraits commissioned to commemorate those who participated in the Napoleonic Wars. This portrait provides a glimpse into the construction of Russian national identity in the early 19th century. Kuruta's confident gaze and the display of military honors speak to the values of the time: duty, honor, and service to the state. As a General, Kuruta would have been part of the social elite, and the portrait could represent an ideal of masculinity and power. Yet, the very act of commissioning an English artist to paint the portraits of Russian heroes raises interesting questions about cultural exchange and influence during this period. What does it mean to have one's national heroes immortalized by someone from another nation?