Catharina II of Russia and her stallion Brillante

Eriksen employs the rococo’s characteristic elegance, using soft modeling and delicate color contrasts. The gold‑trimmed bridle and saddle catch reflected light, while the surrounding foliage and distant hill are rendered with subtle chiaroscuro, creating a modest sense of depth without detracting from the central figures.

Created shortly after Catherine’s reign had become a symbol of enlightened absolutism, the portrait was likely commissioned for diplomatic or commemorative purposes. It entered the Danish national collection and is presently displayed at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it forms part of the museum’s holdings of 18th‑century European portraiture.

Eriksen, known for his service to King Christian VI, applied his courtly portrait experience to a foreign monarch, reflecting the era’s interest in portraying rulers as cultured and genteel. The painting’s rococo aesthetic aligns with the late‑Baroque taste still prevalent in northern Europe during the 1790s.