  We have obtained near-infrared (1.6 micron) images of 11 powerful 3CR radio
galaxies at redshifts 0.8 < z < 1.8 using NICMOS on board HST. The high angular
resolution permits a detailed study of galaxy morphology in these systems at
rest-frame optical wavelengths, where starlight dominates over the extended,
aligned UV continuum. The NICMOS morphologies are mostly symmetric and are
consistent with dynamically relaxed, elliptical host galaxies dominated by a
red, mature stellar population. The aligned structures are sometimes faintly
visible, and nuclear point sources may be present in a few cases which manifest
the ``unveiled'' AGN that is obscured from view at optical wavelengths. Our
observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the host galaxies of z ~
1-2 radio galaxies are similar to modern-day gE galaxies. Their sizes are
typical of gE galaxies but smaller than present-day cD and brightest cluster
galaxies, and their surface brightnesses are higher, as expected given simple
luminosity evolution.
