The Hermitage marked its 250th anniversary in 2014, and as Jaques shows, it stands as a fitting testimonial to its visionary founder.Ī well-researched biography. The ambitious, German-born empress remains a rich source of material. Petersburg, as a shrewd investor in this considerate biography of the art-obsessed monarch. Jaques portrays Catherine II of Russia, founder of the Hermitage Museum in St.

Petersburg, and the magnificent architectural wonder the city became is largely her doing. Catherine also spearheaded the further expansion of St. She was a self-proclaimed glutton for art and she would be responsible for the creation of the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world, second only to the Louvre. She felt that the best way to do this was through a ravenous acquisition of art, which Catherine often used as a form of diplomacy with other powers throughout Europe. Intelligent and determined, Catherine modeled herself off of her grandfather in-law, Peter the Great, and sought to further modernize and westernize Russia. She then staged a coup that ended with him being strangled with his own scarf in the halls of the palace, and she being crowned the Empress of Russia. A German princess who married a decadent and lazy Russian prince, she mobilized support amongst the nobles, playing off of her husband's increasing corruption and abuse of power. There are few women in history more fascinating than Catherine the Great, and for the first time, Susan Jaques brings her to life through the prism of art.This is an art-oriented biograph of the mighty Catherine the Great, who rose from seemingly innocuous beginnings. She was a self-proclaimed 'glutton for art' and she would be responsible for the creation of the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world, second only to the Louvre. She believed that the best way to do this was through a ravenous acquisition of art, which Catherine often used as a form of diplomacy with other powers throughout Europe. She then staged a coup that ended with him being strangled with his own scarf in the halls of the palace, and herself crowned the Empress of Russia. A German princess who married a decadent and lazy Russian prince, Catherine mobilized support amongst the Russian nobles, playing off of her husband's increasing corruption and abuse of power.

The Empress of Art by Susan Jaques