Nikolay Nikolaevich Hovansky, Russian General 

George Dawe painted this portrait of Nikolay Nikolaevich Hovansky, a Russian General, at an unknown date. The image reflects the politics of imagery in Russia at the time, especially after the Napoleonic Wars. Dawe was commissioned to paint portraits of the Russian generals who participated in the war against Napoleon, and these portraits formed a key part of the military gallery in the Winter Palace. This gallery was a powerful piece of state propaganda, designed to reinforce the image of Russia as a major European power and to celebrate the military achievements of its generals. Portraits like this one, then, played an important public role in shaping national identity and reinforcing the power of the state. By studying the biographies of the individuals portrayed, consulting military archives, and analyzing contemporary political discourse, we can better understand the complex social and institutional context in which this portrait was created and displayed.