George Dawe

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George Dawe
RA
George Dawe, by Carl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein (1828)
Born6 February 1781
St James's, Westminster, Kingdom of Great Britain
Died15 October 1829 (aged 48)
Kentish Town, United Kingdom
NationalityEnglish
Known forPainting

George Dawe

Henry Edward Dawe, also a portraitist.[2][3] He died on 15 October 1829 in Kentish Town, United Kingdom
.

Life and career

Early life and studies

George Dawe was born on 6 February 1781 to

Joseph Mallord William Turner and who 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.[4] He originally trained with his father as an engraver and became very accomplished from an early age. He later became interested in painting and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Arts where he won the Royal Academy Schools Gold Medal in 1803.[5]
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 undertook human dissections in his own home as well as attending operations to improve his knowledge of the human body.

George Dawe (seated) and Wilhelm August Golicke (in the hat) with members of his family. Painting by Wilhelm August Golicke (1834?).

Portrait painting

His painting of classical subjects won much praise and were the making of his early reputation but he was more interested in financial success and sought portraiture commissions which were lucrative and which brought him into contact with high society. However, the direct way in which he promoted his own work was not approved of by artistic society and brought considerable criticism from his contemporaries, one of whom was John Constable, who painted a background for a Dawe portrait on at least one occasion. He enjoyed the patronage of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and also that of Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold.

Career in Russia

In 1819 he travelled with the Duke of Kent through Europe. On this tour his painting of portraits of military staff and diplomats brought him to the attention of

Pushkin who wrote a poem about him entitled "To Dawe Esq." In 1826 Nicholas I
invited him to his coronation ceremony and in 1828 he was officially appointed First Portrait Painter of the Imperial Court.

George Dawe at work
(artist unknown)

Dawe returned to England in 1828 and stayed for several months. During this time he exhibited many of his recent works and

George IV
was among those to whom they were privately shown.

Decline in Health, and Death

He returned to St Petersburg in 1829 but soon became increasingly unwell with breathing difficulties following a serious cold. He had pulmonary weakness throughout life following childhood illness. He returned to London in August 1829 and died on 15 October at the home of his brother-in-law, Thomas Wright, a celebrated engraver. He was buried in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral[7] and his funeral was attended by many artists and officials from the Russian embassy.

The significant body of work he created in Russia is currently housed in the military gallery in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Many of his paintings are also included in the British Royal Collection. Despite the international celebrity he enjoyed in his own lifetime his popularity did not endure in England, although in Russia he is still well-known and held in high regard.[8]

Gallery

Russian royalty, noblemen and military officers

Sources:[9][10][11]

Other works

References

  1. ^ “Tate organization: Arts and Artists”
  2. ^ ""Dadiani Fine Art"". Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  3. ^ “Oxford Dictionary of National Biography”
  4. ^ “RusArtNet: Biography of George Dowe”
  5. ^ “Royal Academy: George Dawe RA (1781–1829)”
  6. ^ “The World Artist: George Dawe”
  7. Sinclair, W.
    p. 465: London; Chapman & Hall, Ltd; 1909.
  8. ^ Lamb, Charles. Recollections of a late Royal Academician. The Englishman's Magazine, vol.ii, no.i, September 1831
  9. ^ “National Portrait Gallery: George Dawe Collection”
  10. ^ “Art UK: George Dowe”
  11. ^ “Hermitage Museum Collection of George Dawe”

External links

Media related to George Dawe at Wikimedia Commons

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