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Nicholas I (1796-1855), Russian emperor (1825–55), is often considered the personification of classic autocracy; for his reactionary policies, he has been called the emperor who froze Russia for 30 years. He was the founder of the Imperial Hermitage as a public museum.
Horace Vernet enjoyed great success with the Russian court. He was an exponent of history painting and battle scenes and directed the French academy in Rome. He visited Russia several times (in 1836, 1838, 1842-43); during his sojourns he accompanied Nicholas on military manoeuvres, was granted hereditary nobility, and received a diamond-encrusted Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.
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