Treasures of Catherine the Great - Softcover

MIKHAIL B. PIOTROVSKi is director of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

GERALDINE NORMAN is director of the Hermitage Rooms at Somerset House and author of several books on art. A well-known art journalist, she has worked as a correspondent for The Times and the Independent in London, where she lives.

This delightful and elegant catalog commemorates the inaugural exhibition of the Hermitage Rooms at Somerset House in London. The first exhibition focuses on the collection of one of the world's greatest patrons of the arts, Catherine the Great. The treasures are arranged by gallery and include brief descriptions and the provenance of each item on display. Short essays precede each of the sections and highlight Catherine's life, the objets de vertu at the Imperial Court, her love of cameos, antiquities, arts and crafts, and china and chinoiserie. Beautifully illustrated objects ranging from portraits and miniatures to sculpture, furniture, weapons, and porcelain dazzle and intrigue the viewer. Also included is a listing of the buildings of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, a time line of Catherine's life, and a list of the Romanov dynasty. Essential for any collection focusing on Russian culture and history, as well as other art collections in general. Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.