Doodsportret van Tsaar Nicolaas I van Rusland 1855

Pieter van de Weijer made this lithograph of the dead Tsar Nicholas I of Russia in 1855. Death portraits like this one reveal much about how power is performed and remembered. Consider the moment in which this image was made. The Russian Empire was engaged in the Crimean War, a conflict that exposed the country’s infrastructural and institutional weaknesses. Nicholas’s death came amidst mounting criticism of his autocratic rule. Lithographs like this one were distributed to help shape public opinion. The image, with its soft lighting and focus on the Tsar’s peaceful repose, presents a carefully managed image of imperial power. As art historians, we can look at the formal qualities of the image – the lines, tones, and composition – to understand the message being conveyed. We can also consult historical documents, such as letters, diaries, and newspaper accounts, to understand how the image was received by the public at the time.