Artwork Title: Catherine II

Catherine II, 1762-1764

Vigilius Eriksen

Artwork Title: Catherine IIArtwork Title: Catherine II
"The Danish painter Eriksen completed several portraits of the young Empress, but this is my favorite. I love the composition of the painting, the charming conceit of the mirror revealing a second view of the subject. But mostly, I love the contrast between those two views, the accidental (?) illustration of the two opposing halves of the Empress' character: the refined and cultured European who turns to us, gracefully feminine, and the fierce intelligence, the formidable drive and determination that the reflected profile reveals." [A comment mentions that "The style of dress is a Mantua, de rigour at courts around Europe and totally impractical as an article of clothing."] (http://godsandfoolishgrandeur.blogspot.nl/2014/10/catherine-ii-by-vigilius-eriksen-1762.html)
Uploaded on Jul 29, 2017 by Suzan Hamer

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