Catherine II during a walk in the Tsarskosyelsky Park

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting exhibits characteristics of the late Rococo, evident in its soft color palette, graceful brushwork, and emphasis on decorative detail. Borovikovsky’s handling of light creates a gentle illumination that models the figure and surrounding foliage, while the fine rendering of lace and the dog’s fur demonstrates his meticulous portraiture skills.

Commissioned during Borovikovsky’s tenure as a court painter, the work entered the collection of Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the gallery’s mission to preserve pivotal examples of Russian portraiture from the turn of the nineteenth century.

At the close of the eighteenth century, Russian aristocracy embraced European artistic trends, and Borovikovsky’s portraits helped shape the visual language of the imperial court. This painting aligns with Catherine’s broader patronage of the arts and her efforts to project an image of enlightened rulership through refined, yet approachable, representations.