Blanco medaillon voor een portret van Catharina II, 1781 1781

This 1781 print by an anonymous artist is a blank medallion designed for a portrait of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia. The artwork is an example of a pre-print portrait design and contains the text "Catharina de II Keizerin van Rusland" (Catherine the Second Empress of Russia) and "1781." The medallion design, with the text surrounding a circular blank space for the portrait, was common in the 18th century. This design, now located in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, likely would have been used for an engraving or other printed portrait of Catherine the Great.