Portrait of Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich, future Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia (1796-1855)

The present portrait of Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich is painted after the portraits executed after the British painter George Dawe and his studio. The earliest large full-length portrait, signed and dated 1821 (State Hermitage), served as the prototype for official and half-length portraits of the future Tsar in various uniforms (and the 1826 engravings by John Robinson and Thomas Wright).

The painting version was copied numerous times in Dawe’s studio, and some of these copies were commissioned by the Imperial Household as gifts for member of the Imperial family. It was also reproduced on porcelain and as miniatures, like this one.

The sitter is represented in the standard general’s uniform with the Orders of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called (star and sash); St Vladimir (star and sash under the uniform); and the Swedish Order of the Sword (in the buttonhole).

Another later version of this miniature is in Collection of E. A. Evreinova, St Petersburg,

Others versions was sold in Christie's Geneva, November 15, 1988, lot 306,  and one at Shapiro auctions, May 15 2013, 18 000 €uro