Portrait of Catherine II of Russia (1729-1796)

Drozhdin, trained under notable Russian painters Alexei Antropov and Dmitri Levitsky, employs a traditional formal portrait style, contrasting the subject's opulent dress against a somber background, with a red-clothed table bearing a crown, enhancing the monarch's grandeur.

Painted in 1798 by Drozhdin, who was recognized as an Academician since 1785, the work is now part of the Tretyakov Gallery's collection.

Created towards the end of Catherine II's reign, the portrait reflects the artistic traditions of 18th-century Russian court portraiture, emphasizing the subject's power and dignity.