Ivan Davydovich Panchulidzev, Russian General 

George Dawe painted this portrait of Ivan Davydovich Panchulidzev, a Russian General, in the 19th century. Looking at Dawe’s work, it’s impossible to ignore the significance of military portraiture in solidifying the status of the Imperial Russian Army during this period. The concentration of medals pinned to Panchulidzev’s chest, the details of his golden epaulettes, and the direct, but relaxed, gaze of the general are all visual cues designed to associate him with the kind of heroism that the Russian monarchy wanted to promote. It’s worth remembering that Dawe was commissioned to paint portraits of all the generals who participated in the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon. These portraits constitute a visual record that served a crucial political function. As historians, we can consult military archives, and the records of the Imperial court to understand better the place of such portraits in the construction of Russian national identity.