Aleksey Vasilyevich Ilovaysky, Russian Lieutenant General 

This is George Dawe’s portrait of Aleksey Vasilyevich Ilovaysky, a Russian Lieutenant General, painted at an unknown date in the 19th century. Dawe was commissioned to paint portraits of the Russian Generals who had participated in the Napoleonic Wars. Observe Ilovaysky's gaze; it projects power and pride, befitting a man of his rank. The medals and elaborate uniform reflect his status and accomplishments within the Imperial Russian Army. But consider the cost of such valor. These men were not merely symbols of military might but individuals enmeshed in a violent struggle, representing the Russian aristocracy and its investment in territorial expansion. The portraits in the gallery can be seen as the narration of a specific class and gender identity, framed by wars. Dawe’s decision to portray Ilovaysky with such directness challenges the romanticism often associated with portraits of military figures. Instead, he presents a complex individual shaped by his experiences, inviting us to reflect on the human dimensions of war and the society that perpetuated it.