Catherine II (1729-96), Empress of Russia

Vigilius Eriksen trained in Copenhagen under Johann Salomon Wahl and was awarded a gold medal at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1755, though the Academy denied him formal membership. Between 1757 and 1772 he worked in Saint Petersburg as imperial court painter, producing multiple portraits of Catherine the Great and other royals before returning to Denmark as a royal portraitist to Christian VI. Contemporary admirers compared his likenesses to those of Titian, with one enthusiast writing that "You Eriksen even in just Rank must find - with Titian, Urbin, even with Angelo." Although the Academy that had rejected him in youth never formally affiliated him, he was granted the honorary rank of counselor on the same terms as departing Academy directors. His equestrian portrait of Catherine II in the uniform of a Preobrazhensky officer, held at the Chartres museum of Fine Arts and at Tsarskoye Selo, drew particular scholarly attention for depicting the Empress mounted astride in masculine dress rather than sidesaddle, a striking image associated with her self-presentation as a ruler.

Vigilius Erichsen painted several portraits of Catherine II during his tenure as imperial court painter in Saint Petersburg between 1757 and 1772, a period when he developed his reputation for precise reproduction of elite subjects. His depiction of the Empress in masculine riding attire, particularly in the equestrian portrait commissioned for Tsarskoe Selo, sparked contemporary discussion over her portrayal in military uniform rather than traditional feminine regalia, reflecting broader cultural dialogues about gender and imperial authority. The work was later featured in the 1928 Paris Jeu de Paume exhibition showcasing Danish art, and reproductions of the miniature enamel versions of Catherine II appear in Rosenborg Palace’s collection alongside other royal commissions. His royal portraits of Catherine II and associated court figures contributed to the visual legacy of Enlightenment-era Russian empresses through repeated reproduction and institutional preservation across European collections.