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Fedor Petrovich Uvarov was famed for his skill as a soldier, coming to prominence in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-90 and serving under Alexander Suvorov during the Polish Uprising of 1794. Moving to Moscow in 1798, he rapidly rose through the ranks and became a favourite of Tsar Paul who awarded him in 1799 the order of St. Anne, first class. Two years later, in a dramatic reversal of loyalty, Uvarov was involved in the conspiracy to remove the Tsar from the throne.

When Alexander I took over from his father, Uvarov became his close friend (and Aide-de-camp). He fought valiantly in a series of campaigns against the French, being awarded the order of St. George at Austerlitz; and led the Moldavian army’s advance guard in the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-12. Uvarov particularly distinguished himself at Borodino, commanding the 1stCavalry Corps. In raiding the main French forces he delayed Napoleon’s attack by at least two hours. He entered the imperial service in 1813, a few years before this portrait was commissioned. In 1813 he was also promoted to the rank of General of Cavalry for his actions at the Battle of Leipzig. From 1813-14 he accompanied the Emperor Alexander and in 1821 was appointed commander of the Guards Corps and was rewarded for his loyalty with the title of ‘Count’. In 1823, he became a member of the State Council just prior to his death in St Petersburg in 1824.

This important portrait by Jean Baptiste Isabey, unidentified for many years, is the original watercolour from which many derivations and prints have been taken. These include a portrait of Uvarov by Alois Gustav Rockstuhl (sold Christie’s, London, 27 November, 2007, lot 211). Another miniature of the sitter, also after the present work, was sold Sotheby's, London, 14 December 1995, lot 75, and a further version, mis-identifying the sitter as Count Karl von Alton, was sold Sotheby's, Geneva, 17 May 1984, lot 138. An engraving, also dated 1816, appears to have been taken from this image. He is celebrated in an oil portrait by the English painter George Dawe in the Winter Palace War Gallery at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg. Uvarov was probably introduced to Isabey by Alexander I, who was painted by the artist several times.[1] Isabey also painted Colonel Count Vasilli Ivanovich Apraskin, adjutant to Count Uvarov in 1814.[2]

Uvarov’s status can be further underlined by the portrait of him by Sir Thomas Lawrence, commissioned in 1818 by George IV (at a cost of 300 guineas) and painted in that year at the Congress of Vienna. Originally destined for the ‘Waterloo Chamber’ at Windsor Castle, the portrait never left Lawrence’s studio. Now part of the Royal Collection, Uvarov’s portrait was intended to be seen amongst those distinguished soldiers, diplomats and heads of state who restored monarchies and states after Napoleon was defeated.[3]

[1] Versions of Isabey’s portrait exist in public and private collections, for example in the Museo civico d'arte antica - Palazzo Madama, Turin and the Louvre, Paris. Many are variations of a miniature of Alexander I painted by Jean Baptiste Isabey in Vienna in 1815. It was a very popular portrait and many copies were made by various artists, including Henri Benner and Madame Lefebvre.

[2] Sold Christie’s, London, 27 November 2007, lot 200.

[3] Royal Collection Trust RCIN 404950