Descr. This portrait was commissioned by george iv at a cost of 300 guineas and was painted when the sitter was attending the congress of vienna in 1818, though it remained in lawrence's studio until his death. The portrait seems to have always been intended for what became the 'waterloo chamber' and celebrates the sitter’s role as soldier and diplomat, attending the tzar at the congresses of aix-la-chapelle and vienna. Prince chernichev is wearing black military uniform with red sash and orders; pointing with his gloved left hand as if directing a battle. The waterloo chamber is a great hall on the public route at windsor castle displaying portraits of those soldiers, sovereigns and diplomats responsible for the overthrow of napoleon and the re-establishment of the monarchies and states of europe thereafter. The concept began in 1814 when george iv used the opportunity of the treaty of london to commission lawrence to paint distinguished visitors. The group of portraits grew during the next decade as lawrence continued to obtain portrait sittings at the various congresses following the battle of waterloo in 1815 and, in some cases, by making special journeys. Most of the twenty eight portraits were delivered after his death on 7 january 1830. By this time work was already begun of the space of the waterloo chamber created by covering a courtyard at windsor castle with a huge sky-lit vault; the room was completed during the reign of william iv (1830-7). The first illustration of the interior is provided by joseph nash (1809-78) in 1844 (rcin 919785) and shows the arrangement which survives to this day: full-length portraits of warriors hang high, over the two end balconies and around the walls; at ground level full-length portraits of monarchs alternate with half-lengths of diplomats and statesmen. Object Type: painting. Date: December 1818. Dimensions: height: 127.2 cm (50 in); width: 102.7 cm (40.4 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Collection: Windsor Castle. Alexandr Chernyshov by T.Lawrence (1818, Royal coll.)
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