Alexander Ivanovich Sauerweid (1783-1844), a superb battle painter, produced a whole suite of watercolours recording the cavalrymen of Alexander I's day. In this instance he depicted a staff officer colonel of the Life Guards Uhlan Regiment. The first uhlan regiment in Russia, formed in 1803 following the example of the Polish national light cavalry, was Tsesarevich Konstantin Pavlovich's Uhlan Regiment. In 1809 two guards regiments — the Uhlans and the Dragoons — were formed from that regular army regiment. In the Patriotic War of 1812 the four active squadrons of the Guards Uhlans formed part of the 1st Western Army in the cavalry corps commanded by Lieutenant General F.P. Uvarov, while the reserve squadron formed part of the combined guards regiment in Lieutenant General P.Ch. Wittgenstein's corps. The Life Guards Uhlan Regiment was commanded by Major General A.S. Chalikov. In April 1813 the regiment was awarded St George standards with the inscription "For the capture of an enemy standard near Krasnoye and for distinction in the defeat and driving out of the enemy from Russian territory in 1812". In August 1814, for its accomplishments at the Battle of La Fere-Champenoise the regiment was awarded silver St George trumpets. The officers of the Life Guards Uhlans wore dark blue uniforms and breeches. Their cloth facings (lapels, cuffs, edging, trouser stripes) were red, their metallic fittings gold (epaulets, collar tabs, baldric and buttons). A white aigrette adorned the uhlans' square-topped hats.