Catherine the Great of Russia (1729–1796)
In his catalogue of Weil’s collection Ernst Kris suggested the Austrian archduchess and Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa as the subject of this portrait, but the imposing countenance and ample bosom are those of Catherine the Great (1729–1796) in advanced age. She favored many foreign carvers with orders and also created imperial workshops in the provinces. This tiny oval could have been carved by a German in her employ.
Artwork Details
- Title: Catherine the Great of Russia (1729–1796)
- Date: ca. 1790
- Culture: possibly German
- Medium: Onyx and gold
- Dimensions: Overall: 3/4 x 5/8 in. (1.9 x 1.5 cm); visible cameo (confirmed): 17.9 x 14.2 mm
- Classification: Lapidary Work-Gems
- Credit Line: The Milton Weil Collection, 1939
- Object Number: 39.22.26
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 1776–79
ca. 1780–83
ca. 1775–79 with later alterations
Balthasar Permoser (German, Kammer, near Otting, Chiemgau, Bavaria 1651–1732 Dresden)
ca. 1680–85
Ignaz Günther (German, Altmannstein 1725–1775 Munich)
ca. 1755
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.