The 1812 War Gallery at the Hermitage
The 1812 War Gallery is a memorial to Russian military glory inside the Winter Palace. It is Room 197, long and narrow, hung from end to end with portraits of the generals — the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 and the campaigns that followed.
The portraits by George Dawe
The walls of the gallery hold over three hundred portraits of generals (about 330). Most were painted by the English artist George Dawe and his studio, brought to Russia specially for this enormous task. The portraits are in a single format and hung in rows — faces, uniforms and decorations merging into a collective image of a victorious army.
Set apart are the large state and equestrian portraits of the emperors and commanders — Alexander I, and full-length figures of Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly. A few frames in the gallery are covered with green cloth and hold no portrait: the likenesses of those generals could never be found — a detail that moves many visitors.
Dawe did not work alone: he was helped by Russian painters (among them A. Polyakov and V. Golike), for painting more than three hundred portraits would otherwise have been impossible. The gallery so impressed contemporaries that Pushkin devoted a poem, “The Commander”, to it — about Barclay de Tolly and the bitterness of an unrecognised feat.
Rossi and Stasov
The gallery was conceived and built by the architect Carlo Rossi; it opened ceremonially in 1826, on the anniversary of the victory. After the fire of 1837 the interior, like the whole palace, was restored by Vasily Stasov, who kept the original concept and returned the portraits to their places.
Saved from the fire
In the 1837 fire, when the palace burned almost completely, the gallery’s portraits were saved: guardsmen and servants carried the canvases out of the flames, and not a single portrait was lost. When Stasov rebuilt the hall, all the images returned to their former places — so today we see the gallery much as it was conceived in the 1820s.
Link with the Field Marshals’ Hall
The War Gallery is part of the “military” theme of the palace enfilade. Next to it is the Field Marshals’ Hall, with portraits of the commander field marshals, and beyond it the St George (Great Throne) Hall. Together they form a single narrative of power and military glory.
What to look for
- Rows of portraits in a single format — up close they are individual faces; step back and you see the “collective portrait” of a whole army.
- The empty frames under green cloth — a memorial to the generals whose likenesses were never found.
- The large equestrian and full-length portraits of Alexander I, Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly — the gallery’s focal points.
- Recall Pushkin’s “The Commander” — written about this very hall.
How to find it
Room 197 is in the Great Enfilade on the first floor, between the Armorial Hall and St George Hall. Find your bearings with the floor plan; to fit the gallery into your visit, see the one-day itinerary.
FAQ
Which room number is the 1812 War Gallery? Room 197, on the first floor of the Winter Palace.
How many portraits are in the gallery? Over three hundred (about 330) portraits of generals; most were painted by George Dawe and his studio.
Why are some frames empty? The portraits of some generals could not be found, so their places were left covered with green cloth.
Who built the gallery? Carlo Rossi (opened in 1826); after the 1837 fire it was restored by Vasily Stasov.
This is an unofficial, informational website. The availability of rooms changes — confirm details on the official museum website.