Catherine II after Lampi (18th c., priv.coll)

Russian school 18th century portrait of catherine ii 'the great', empress of russia (1729-1796) with small diamond crown and laurel wreath on her powdered and curled hair, wearing an ermine cape with the chain of the order of st. Andrew and the sash of the order of st. George enamel, held in a silver and gold openwork frame of leaves and flowers set with emeralds, rubies and diamonds 3 by 2. 5 cm.;1 1/2 by 1 in. Read condition report provenance anonymous sale, bonhams london, the connoisseur's cabinet, 7 november 2001, lot 250 catalogue note enamel images of catherine were often presented by her as gifts to supporters of the throne or foreign dignitaries. The present lot, which is elaborately framed, may have been one such gift. The composition for the present enamel is derived from fyodor stepanovich rokotov's 1780 full-length painting (hermitage, st. Petersburg). Date: 18th century.