Catharine II 1779 - 1787

Editor: Here we have Michail Schibanoff's "Catharine II," painted in oil on canvas sometime between 1779 and 1787. I'm immediately drawn to the sheer opulence of her attire. The portrait has a stately and formal mood. What's your read on this, from a historical perspective? Curator: The opulence you notice isn't accidental. Think about what it meant to portray Catherine the Great this way, particularly considering the historical context. What socio-political message do you think Schibanoff, and perhaps Catherine herself, were trying to project to both a domestic and international audience? Editor: I guess showing power and stability through wealth was a big part of maintaining control back then? It feels very much like propaganda. Curator: Precisely. Portraits of rulers were rarely just about likeness; they were carefully constructed performances of power. Catherine’s reign involved Westernizing Russia, but how did this impact Russia internally, and do you see evidence of those impacts in this portrait, good or bad? Editor: Hmm, it is interesting that the style leans Rococo but executed in Russia. Perhaps this portrait signifies the influence of Western artistic ideals but done with Russian resources or aesthetic in mind. Curator: A perceptive observation. What can you tell me about Catherine's perception in Russia itself? Did everyone view her as an enlightened leader, or were there opposing narratives circulating through the public at that time? Consider the various perspectives within the Russian empire then. Editor: I hadn't considered that complexity. Now I am curious about her relationship with the people versus this highly constructed image. It’s interesting to see how portraits contribute to the formation, or manipulation, of public opinion and political legacy. Curator: Exactly! It reveals so much about art’s active role in constructing history. Editor: This makes me look at portraits very differently! It’s not just the subject, but also the artist’s, patron’s, and the society's roles in shaping it. Thanks.