Empress Catherine II 1837

This is a bronze sculpture of Empress Catherine II, made by Samuel Friedrich Ivanovich Hallberg sometime between the late 18th and early 19th century. This image of Catherine as a powerful, yet enlightened ruler connects to the broader cultural and political context of 18th-century Russia. Through visual cues, such as the classical drapery, Hallberg references classical antiquity. This visual code associates Catherine with wisdom, stability and imperial power. Russia, under Catherine’s rule, expanded its territory and influence, and the empress herself was a patron of the arts and sciences, so the sculpture can be understood as a piece of political propaganda. To fully grasp the artwork's significance, historical resources, such as Catherine's letters and manifestos, as well as analyses of Russian court culture, can help us understand the social and institutional context that shaped the artwork's creation and meaning.