cover image The Empress of Art: Catherine the Great and the Transformation of Russia

The Empress of Art: Catherine the Great and the Transformation of Russia

Susan Jaques. Pegasus, $28.95 (480p) ISBN 978-1-60598-972-3

Art writer Jaques (A Love for the Beautiful) portrays Catherine II of Russia (1729–1796), founder of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as a shrewd investor in this considerate biography of the art-obsessed monarch. The ambitious, German-born empress remains a rich source of material for biographers due to her legendary love life as well as her determination to “put her picture gallery on the map.” Catherine, a voracious reader as well as a supporter of “enlightened despotism,” deftly maneuvered her way out of a loveless marriage and carried out the expansionist mandate of Peter the Great. In an effort to match the art collection of Frederick the Great of Prussia, she engaged advisers such as French philosopher Denis Diderot. With the Parisian art scene heating up in the late 18th century, Catherine bought in bulk, often from the heirs of well-known collectors. Russia’s deep pockets afforded her masses of silver, porcelain, gems, and other objects, much of which she bequeathed to her beloved grandson, Alexander. By 1791 she had outstripped her rivals, and her relentless pursuit of artwork had turned St. Petersburg into a cultural center. The Hermitage marked its 250th anniversary in 2014, and as Jaques shows, it stands as a fitting testimonial to its visionary founder. Color Photos. Agent: Alice Martell, Martell Literary. (Apr.)