(1781 - 1829)
George Dawe was born in London; the son of the mezzotint engraver Philip Dawe. After training under his father, he studied painting at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1814 he was elected a full Academician. He also exhibited at the British Institution. He was employed as a court painter and travelled on the continent as one of the entourage of Edward, Duke of Kent, visiting Paris, Cambrai (northern France), Brussels and Aix-la-Chapelle (Germany). Alexander I of Russia invited him to relocate to Russia, where he painted some 400 portraits of chiefs of the Russian army. However, he did not live to enjoy his success, dying unmarried at 48, just six weeks after his return to England in 1829. He was interred, with honours, at St Paul’s Cathedral.
