Who painted Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante?

Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante was painted by Vigilius Eriksen.

Where can I see Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante?

Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante?

Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante

Vigilius Eriksen

Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Vigilius Eriksen. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays Catherine the Great of Russia astride her white stallion Brillante, emphasizing equestrian prowess and sovereign authority.

The painting portrays Catherine the Great of Russia astride her white stallion Brillante, emphasizing equestrian prowess and sovereign authority. The work aligns with the tradition of equestrian portraiture, where rulers are depicted mounted to signify power and control.

Catherine’s confident posture atop Brillante, combined with the horse’s dynamic stance, conveys strength and leadership. The inclusion of the horse as both companion and symbol reinforces the ruler’s connection to nobility and military virtue, themes resonant in 18th-century court imagery.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1782 by Vigilius Eriksen, this work is an oil painting on canvas. The piece functions as an equestrian portrait, depicting Catharina II of Russia alongside her stallion, Brillante. Measuring 97 cm in height and 88.5 cm in width, the composition adheres to the formal conventions of royal portraiture from the late eighteenth century.

The application of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering of both the monarch and the animal subject. Currently held by the Statens Museum for Kunst, the painting remains classified within the genre of portraiture.

History & Provenance

Vigilius Eriksen executed the equestrian portrait Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante in 1782. Created using oil paint on canvas, the work measures 97 cm in height and 88.5 cm in width. The painting depicts Empress Catherine II mounted on her stallion, Brillante.

Today, the artwork is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located.

Vigilius Eriksen's 1782 oil painting, Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The work is cataloged within the museum's holdings as an equestrian portrait depicting the Russian empress and her horse. While the artwork has been part of the Statens Museum for Kunst collection since its inception in 1782, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Additionally, no exhibition history is recorded in the available documentation.

Overview

Vigilius Eriksen, a Danish court painter active in the mid‑18th century, completed an oil portrait in 1792 that shows Empress Catherine II of Russia mounted on her horse, Brillante. Executed in a light, decorative manner typical of the rococo, the canvas now belongs to the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.

Context

Eriksen, known for his service to King Christian VI, applied his courtly portrait experience to a foreign monarch, reflecting the era’s interest in portraying rulers as cultured and genteel. The painting’s rococo aesthetic aligns with the late‑Baroque taste still prevalent in northern Europe during the 1790s.

Portrait of Johan Wolphert van Brederode (1599-1655), Jan van Rossum

Artist & collection

Artist

Vigilius Eriksen

Vigilius Eriksen (2 September 1722 in Copenhagen – 25 May 1782 in Rungstedgård) was a Danish painter. He was the royal portraitist to Christian VI of Denmark.