Who painted Catherine II?

Catherine II was painted by Augustin de Saint-Aubin in 1802.

Where can I see Catherine II?

Catherine II is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Catherine II?

Catherine II is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Catherine II

Augustin de Saint-Aubin , 1802

Catherine II is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Augustin de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1802 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Augustin de Saint‑Aubin, a member of a noted French family of engravers, produced an engraved portrait titled *Catherine II* in 1802. Executed on laid paper, the print combines etching and engraving to render a profile view of a crowned woman, her hair styled in loose curls and accented with a bow.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a female figure, likely intended to represent Empress Catherine the Great, shown in profile facing right. The crown with a cross and the decorative bow emphasize regal authority and courtly elegance, while the oval frame isolates the portrait against a uniform background.

Technique & Style

Saint‑Aubin employed both etching, which allows for fine, spontaneous lines, and engraving, which adds depth through incised hatching. This dual approach creates textural contrast between the delicate curls of hair and the solid planes of the crown and background, enhancing the sense of three‑dimensionality on the paper surface.

History & Provenance

The print emerges from the early nineteenth‑century French printmaking tradition, reflecting the Saint‑Aubin family’s longstanding involvement in graphic arts. Produced shortly after Catherine the Great’s death, it likely served as a commemorative image circulated among collectors and admirers of the Russian monarch.

Artist & collection

Artist

Augustin de Saint-Aubin

Augustin de Saint-Aubin sometimes styled Auguste de Saint-Aubin (3 January 1736 – 9 November 1807), belongs to an important dynasty of French designers and engravers.