(b. 1716, St. Petersburg, d. 1795, St. Petersburg)
Portrait of Catherine II
before 1766
Oil on canvas, 51 x 38 cm
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Catherine II (Yekaterina Alekseyevna) of Russia, called the Great (1729-1796) reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years, from June 28 1762 until her death. She exemplifies the enlightened despot of her era.