Empress Catherine II 1771

This 1771 round relief portrait of Empress Catherine II by Jean-Baptiste Nini, made of black basalt, depicts the Russian empress in profile. Her elaborate hairstyle is adorned with flowers and jewels. The work, which is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, is an example of Neoclassical portraiture, an artistic style that emerged during the Enlightenment and emphasized classical ideals of beauty and simplicity. The inscription on the medallion refers to Catherine II as "Empress of all the Russias."