Military Gallery of the Winter Palace, Portrait gallery in Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Military Gallery of the Winter Palace is a long hall with a barrel-vaulted ceiling displaying 332 portraits of military officers who served during the Napoleonic Wars between 1812 and 1815. The space connects the Armorial Hall with St George's Hall and now forms part of the State Hermitage Museum.
The portraits were painted by British artist George Dawe and his Russian assistants between 1819 and 1826, several years after the wars they depict had ended. During the Winter Palace fire of 1837, Palace Grenadiers rescued all 332 works from destruction.
The gallery displays portraits of Russian military commanders from the Napoleonic Wars era, capturing their role in a defining moment for the nation. The way the works hang in this long hall creates a sense of order and respect for those honored.
The hall sits within the palace complex and is easily reached while exploring the adjoining rooms. The natural lighting in the space works best during daytime hours, allowing you to view the portraits clearly without strain.
Many visitors overlook the fact that the faces in the portraits are often idealized representations, since Dawe did not always paint the officers from life. He relied partly on descriptions and other artistic sources to complete the gallery within the intended timeframe.
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