Catherine II (1729-1796) 1771

Editor: Here we have Giovanni Battista Nini’s rendering of Catherine II. It's a small, framed portrait in profile. The detail is striking, but something about its scale makes it feel… almost like propaganda in miniature. How do you see its function? Curator: Its scale is precisely the point. These medallions, readily portable, were powerful tools for disseminating Catherine's image and authority throughout her vast empire and beyond. Consider how such objects functioned within networks of power and patronage. Editor: So it's less about artistic expression and more about political strategy? Curator: The two aren't mutually exclusive. Nini was a skilled artist, but his skill served a specific purpose: to craft a carefully curated image of the Empress, reinforcing her legitimacy and projecting an aura of enlightened rule. What message do you think the artist conveyed with her hairstyle? Editor: That makes perfect sense. I see now that even the smallest details, like the hairstyle, contributed to the overall political statement. Curator: Precisely. A reminder that art rarely exists in a vacuum.