Catherine the Great, An Enlightened Empress exhibition

Catherine II on her horse Brilliant ™ (c) The State Hermitage Museum Vldimir Terebenin, Leonard Kheifets, Yuri Molodkovets. The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. (p) GoUK.com

What

Catherine the Great, An Enlightened Empress exhibition

When

13 July to 21 October 2012

Where

National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh

The Fanfare

Catherine the Great, An Enlightened Empress will showcase the collections of one of Russia’s most successful rulers with objects that have never been on display before outside Russia, giving visitors an idea of the dazzling wealth and magnificence of the Russian court.

The 300 exhibits will include French silver and ceramics, important paintings acquired from France and England, imperial court costumes and uniforms, as well as many of the finest examples of porcelain, metal and polished stone ever made in Russia.

Catherine the Great (1729–96) was one of the greatest art collectors of all time.

Her collecting reflected both the personal and political ambitions of a woman who put Russia on the cultural map of Europe.

She accumulated, mainly through purchases and commissions abroad, more than 4,000 paintings, 10,000 drawings and 32,000 engraved gems, as well as antique sculptures, medals, jewels and snuff boxes inlaid with precious gems, gold and silver.

The National Museum of Scotland is in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town and minutes from the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.

It is open daily 10am–5pm, admission free.

Admission to the exhibition is £9 adults, £7.50 concessions, £6 children and £26 family ticket.

Catherine the Great: An Enlightened Empress will be on display in the museum’s new purpose-built exhibition space from 13 July to 21 October.

National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
Tel: +44 300 123 6789
Website: www.nms.ac.uk
Facebook: National Museums Scotland
Twitter: @NtlMuseumsScot
Blog: The Feast Bowl
Flickr: National Museum of Scotland