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The most interesting views
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Portrait of Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov
George Dawe
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Portrait of Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich
George Dawe and Thomas Wright
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In the central part of the War Gallery, by the entrance
to the Large Throne Room, are formal portraits of Field Marshal General
Mikhail Kutuzov and Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, who represented
two opposing views prevailing in the Russian society at that time.
Kutuzov, the brilliant military leader who took command of the Russian
army in the War of 1812, wrote: "I could take pride in being
the first general from whom the haughty Napoleon is running away”.
In December 1812 he reported to St Petersburg: "The war has ended
with complete extermination of the enemy". Grand Duke Konstantin
Pavlovich, Alexander I's brother, since the Austerlitz defeat had
been among the adherents of peace with Napoleon, who were also known
as "the French party". At the outbreak of the Patriotic
War of 1812, he led the Corps of Guards, but in August 1812 he was
removed from the army on account of differences with Barclay de Tolly
who commanded the Russian forces at the first stage of the war. |
