19th May, 2026 10:00
Old Master, British and European Art
246
George Dawe RA (British, 1781-1829)
Portrait of the Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia (1798-1849), half-length, in the uniform of the Guard Artillery
signed and dated 'Geo. Dawe/pinxit 1824' l.l., with a torn label inscribed in Cyrillic verso, oil on canvas
98 x 75cm; framed 107 x 85cm
Provenance:Christie’s, London, 18 December 1931, lot 96, from the property of Prince Demidoff, having been removed from Villa Perles, Drap, Nice;
Lady Freda Valentine, née Butler;
thence by descent;
the collection of Mr and Mrs Francis Anthony Brinsley Valentine.
The Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich was born in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg in 1798, the fourth son of Tsar Paul I of Russia and his second wife Maria Feodorovna (Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg), and the younger brother of two future Tsars, Alexander I and Nicholas I. He received a military education and was enrolled in the imperial army at an early age. He played a crucial role in confronting the Decembrist uprising after the death of Alexander in 1825, demonstrating Romanov unity and steadfast loyalty to his elder brother Nicholas, fought in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-29 and the Polish Campaign of 1830-31. He became Chief of all Military Schools in Russia and in 1844 was appointed Commander of the Guards and Grenadier Corps. He married his cousin Princess Friederike Charlotte Marie of Württemberg, by whom he had six daughters. He died in 1849 at the age of 51.
A later version of the portrait, dated 1829 and of slightly smaller dimensions, is in the Romanov Gallery at the Hermitage, St Petersburg. Another, unsigned, appeared at Christie's in London in September 2005 (as 'attributed to George Dawe').
Take advantage of our Sworders Delivery Service. Please see 'Shipping estimate' below.
Browse the collection of 'Later Portraiture', featured in our 19 May 'Old Master, British and European Art' auction.
Sold for £26,000
Condition Report
Relined with slight bumps in upper right corner. Craquelure and surface dirt. There is discolouration to the varnish and the work has a yellow hue overall, please refer to illustration. There are some small dark spots to the background in the upper third and a small white mark to the left of the sitter's head. There is light horizontal scuff across the sitter's chest. Under certain lighting conditions the varnish appears somewhat uneven and there are areas on the jacket where there are darker patches of paint, please refer to additional condition images. Examined under UV light some fine infilling strongly fluoresces to the sitter's lips, left eyebrow and just beneath the tip of the nose. Further retouching can be seen on and around the hand and to the hair above the centre of the forehead. Much of the surface is obscured by a thick layer of varnish which makes reading difficult and may conceal earlier campaigns of restoration. Spotting to verso.
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Auction: Old Master, British and European Art, 19th May, 2026
Viewing
London Viewing | Highlights
A selection of lots will be on view Tuesday 21 April - Friday 1 May at our London Gallery, 15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ, as follows:
Monday-Friday, 11am - 5.30pm
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - Closed
For more information, please contact 0203 971 2500 | london@sworder.co.uk
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 15 May, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 17 May, 10am - 1pm
Monday 18 May, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
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