David Artemyevich Delyanov (or Delakyan), Russian Major General 

Curator: I’m drawn in by his gaze, almost as if he expects me to know something I don’t. There’s a slight mischievousness there, don’t you think? Editor: Perhaps a sense of the artist having immortalized him for posterity? This oil painting is identified as a portrait of David Artemyevich Delyanov, a Russian Major General, by George Dawe. Curator: Major General, huh? It makes sense with that uniform; talk about braided frills. I’m particularly curious about his expression. His face seems incredibly modern, almost contemporary. Editor: I’d agree it captures something individual. The Napoleonic Era saw an explosion of military portraiture intended to glorify individuals who were often being made into a cult of personality. This, of course, played a massive part in legitimizing military expansion. Curator: He definitely feels imposing. Almost theatrically so with the swirling, curling detail of his hair! It strikes me that Dawe's captured a sense of power here, not just authority or rank, but a deep personal conviction. Editor: Exactly. Portraits such as this reinforced very public perceptions. These weren’t simply artworks, but crucial components in nation-building through imagery and the manufacturing of historical figures. Curator: I suppose that makes sense given the period, an idealized representation to project. But when I look at his eyes I still feel he is telling me so much more. The artist managed to capture so much individuality, too. Almost as though the sitter's spirit shines through the strict, formal pose. It is incredibly captivating. Editor: Indeed, it's precisely this intersection of individual personality and public role that makes it such a potent image—and so much more than simply a record of a man and a uniform. I also see its context as the key, knowing who the artwork was aimed to promote. Curator: I agree. It goes beyond mere skill or representation. What remains in the stillness of his face seems to linger in your own imagination long after viewing this work.