Portrait of Alexander I of Russia

Portrait of Alexander I of Russia
Artist	Thomas Lawrence
Year	1814–18
Type	Oil on canvas, portrait painting
Dimensions	273 cm × 179.1 cm (107 in × 70.5 in)
Location	Royal Collection, Windsor Castle

Portrait of Alexander I of Russia is an 1818 portrait painting by the English artist Thomas Lawrence featuring the Russian Tsar Alexander I, who had reigned since the overthrow and murder of his father in 1801. It was one of a large series of paintings that Lawrence, the most fashionable painter of the Regency Era, produced of European leaders.

Sitter

Alexander had made peace and allied with Napoleon at the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807, but following the French invasion of Russia in 1812 he had joined forces with Britain to repel Napoleon. After the initial defeat of the French Emperor in 1814 during the War of the Sixth Coalition, the Allied Leaders visited London for victory celebrations. Alexander remained a prominent member of the international Congress System until 1825, when he died in mysterious circumstances.

Painting

The Prince Regent commissioned Lawrence to paint several of the visiting dignitaries. The resulting works included his Portrait of Marshal Blucher and a depiction of the Russian Cossack commander Matvei Platov.,

Lawrence was paid 500 guineas for the work. It remains in the Royal Collection and is now on display in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle.

Bibliography

• Goldring, Douglas. Regency Portrait Painter: The Life of Sir Thomas Lawrence. Macdonald, 1951.
• Levey, Michael. Sir Thomas Lawrence. Yale University Press, 2005.
• Nickell, William. The Death of Tolstoy: Russia on the Eve, Astapovo Station, 1910. Cornell University Press, 2011.