Catherine, empress of russia is shown in this signed enamel by charles boit, the leading european enamellist of the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The enamel is based on a portrait painted by jean-marc nattier in 1717 (the hermitage, st petersburg) and must have been copied on the orders of peter the great during his visit to paris in that year. Boit enjoyed a successful reputation having worked as court enamellist in england from 1696 until 1714 and then found favour at the french court with patrons such as philippe, duc d'orléans (1674-1723). The empress is shown her wearing an embroidered gold dress, an ermine-lined crimson robe and the red sash of the order of st catherine. Date: circa 1717. Dimensions: height: 5.7 cm (2.2 in); width: 4.8 cm (1.8 in). Medium: miniature on enamel. Collection: Royal Collection. Catherine I of Russia by Charles Boit (c.1717, Royal coll)
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