Balk Michail Dmitrievich, Russian General 1828

George Dawe painted this oil on canvas portrait of Balk Michail Dmitrievich, a Russian General, sometime in the early 19th century. Dawe’s technique is quite conventional for the period, building up layers of paint to create a lifelike representation. But the material itself – oil paint – had a particular cultural significance at the time. It was the medium of choice for academic art, prized for its capacity to mimic textures and capture subtle gradations of light and shadow. Consider how Dawe used these qualities to convey Dmitrievich's status, from the smooth, almost porcelain-like rendering of his face to the crisp details of his uniform. Note that the gold embroidery would have been incredibly labor-intensive to produce, a visual marker of wealth and power. By employing such a refined technique, Dawe elevated his subject, aligning him with a tradition of aristocratic portraiture. Ultimately, this painting is a product of its time, reflecting the social hierarchies and artistic conventions of 19th-century Russia. Yet, by examining the materials and processes involved, we can gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance.