Fyodor Karlovich Korf, Russian Lieutenant General 

George Dawe painted this portrait of Fyodor Karlovich Korf, a Russian Lieutenant General, using oil on canvas. Oil paint, with its capacity for blending and layering, was the perfect medium to convey the status of its sitter. The artist applied thin glazes of color to create the sheen and depth of Korf’s face and uniform. Look closely, and you’ll see the bravura brushwork in the gold embellishments; Dawe has captured the very texture of the epaulettes and braiding, as well as the reflective quality of the medals. Consider the labor involved in the Lieutenant General’s attire, from the embroidery to the metalwork. These are all signs of Korf's privilege and power, made tangible through the skilled work of many hands. And the same, of course, applies to the painting itself. Ultimately, this portrait invites us to consider the social context of its making, bridging the gap between high art and the often-unacknowledged craft traditions that supported it.