Artwork
Portrait of Catherine II (1729-96), empress of Russia
Portrait of Catherine II (1729-96), empress of Russia is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Vigilius Eriksen. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1772 by Vigilius Eriksen, this portrait of Empress Catherine II is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 62 cm in height and 48.5 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the piece utilizes traditional oil mediums to render the likeness of the Russian empress, adhering to the conventions of eighteenth-century court portraiture through its specific material composition and support.
History & Provenance
Vigilius Eriksen's 1772 oil-on-canvas portrait of Catherine II is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The portrait of Catherine II, Empress of Russia, was created by the Danish artist Vigilius Eriksen in 1772. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 62 cm in height and 48.5 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
While the specific commissioning details and the full chain of prior ownership are not detailed in the available records, the work has been dated definitively to 1772 and depicts the Russian empress.
Vigilius Eriksen's 1772 oil-on-canvas portrait of Catherine II is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work measures 62 cm in height and 48.5 cm in width. While the painting's presence in the museum is confirmed, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they document any exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
Vigilius Eriksen, a Danish court painter active for King Christian VI, completed an oil portrait of Empress Catherine II of Russia in 1772. Executed in the Rococo style, the work now forms part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents Catherine II with flowing, wavy hair crowned by a delicate tiara. She is dressed in a white gown trimmed with a blue sash and a gold necklace, emphasizing her regal status and the elegance associated with eighteenth‑century imperial portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
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