The exhibition dedicated to the Empress Catherine the Great conveys a picturesque and bright image of that period and represents the development of Russian culture in the second half of the 18th century.

The exposition includes 213 items from the Russian culture department, the Numismatics department, the Department of the history of Western European fine arts, the Department of the history of decorative applied art, the Central library of the State Hermitage.

The exhibition consists of several topic sections. The most significant among them represents Catherine the 2nd as the greatest statesperson of the age of Enlightenment. One of the topics is dedicated to Catherine as the successor of Peter the 1st in the consolidation and formation of the Russian statehood. A number of items highlight the empress's private life and her immediate environment. The materials which captured the Petersburg of Catherine's age are arranged as a separate topic.

The exposition represents Western European paintings from the collection of the Catherine's Hermitage, artifacts of emperors' porcelain and glass factories, the Peterhof lapidary plant and other Russia's prominent art manufacturers.

Events of state's internal and external policy, successes of the Russian army in wars at the country's Northern and Southern borders are reflected in medals issued in honor of the gained victories, engravings, paintings. The visitors will see the portraits of famous military leaders and statesmen such as Grigory Potemkin-Tavrichesky, Alexander Suvorov, Grigory Spiridov, Alexey Orlov-Chesmensky and others.

Great contribution to the development of domestic culture and science was made by Yekaterina Dashkova, Ivan Betskoy, Ivan Shuvalov, Alexander Stroganov whose portraits are put on the display.

Works of painting and graphics, items of decorative applied art, numismatics samples allow you to discover personal interests and passions of the empress. A series of miniature portraits represents the members of her family and her immediate environment.

Catherine the 2nd places the Cesme trophy on the grave of Peter the Great 1791 Larger view

Catherine the 2nd surrounded by her family and court members 1782 Larger view