Artwork
Portrait of Empress Catharine II of Russia
Portrait of Empress Catharine II of Russia is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Joseph Friedrich August Darbes. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition conveys both the political power and personal dignity of the monarch, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of enlightened rule.
The painting shows Catherine II of Russia in royal attire, holding a scepter that signifies her sovereign authority, while the imperial regalia and opulent drapery emphasize her status as Empress. The composition conveys both the political power and personal dignity of the monarch, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of enlightened rule. The work was created in 1774 and is part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 1830 cm by 1390 cm. It depicts Catherine II of Russia in a formal portrait style characteristic of late 18th‑century Russian court painting. The handling of light and the crisp rendering of fabric and ornamentation reflect the academic realism practiced by Joseph Friedrich August Darbes, while the composition emphasizes the sitter’s regal authority through a dignified pose and direct gaze.
The painting’s condition appears stable, with no noted structural damage to the canvas or flaking of the oil medium. Its formal qualities include a balanced arrangement of figure and background, restrained palette, and meticulous attention to detail that together convey both the subject’s status and the artist’s technical mastery.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Empress Catharine II of Russia was created in 1774 by the artist Joseph Friedrich August Darbes. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work depicts Catherine II of Russia and measures 183 cm in height by 139 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
The work is held at Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is catalogued under inventory number 1849.
It has been exhibited in the museum’s European Paintings galleries, as documented in the museum’s exhibition records.
The painting was created in 1774 and entered the collection shortly thereafter, remaining part of the museum’s permanent holdings.
Overview
The Portrait of Empress Catharine II of Russia is an oil painting created by Joseph Friedrich August Darbes in 1774, depicting Catherine II of Russia, and is now held at the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Friedrich August Darbes
Joseph Friedrich August Darbes (1747–1810) was an artist, born in Hamburg.
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