Celebrities Like Russian Generals Painted By George Dawe

George Dawe was born on 6 February 1781 to Philip Dawe and Jane in Brewer Street, in the parish of St James's. Philip was an artist and engraver in mezzotint who had worked with Hogarth and Turner and he also produced satirical political cartoons about life in America which are still highly regarded today. George was the first child born to the couple and there would be other successful artists in the family.
Dawe was baptised on 25 February 1781 at St James’ Church in Piccadilly. He would later become one of the most successful artists of his generation and an international celebrity of considerable fame and wealth. Although he is not well known today, it is less than 180 years since he became the First Portrait Painter of the Imperial Court in Russia.
Dawe originally trained with his father as an engraver and became very accomplished from an early age. He later became mainly interested in painting and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Arts. He was elected an associate member of the Royal Academy in 1809 and became an Academician in 1814.
He collected old masters and studied modern and classical languages, philosophy and literature. He also studied anatomy as part of his pursuit of a better understanding of the human form and also undertook human dissections in his own home as well as attending operations to improve his knowledge of the human body.