Catherine the Great Lecture Series #1: A Passion for Building

She called it a disease! A look at Catherine’s love of architecture and her insatiable desire to build – from the grandiose Academy of Fine Arts to the most intimate of private apartments. She collaborated with some of the most distinguished architects of her day from Italy, England and France and left an unrivalled legacy of beautiful neo-classical buildings. David Wistow, Interpretive planner, European Department at the AGO has studied Russian art and architecture for many years.

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Image caption: Royal Gobelin Factory, Paris, designed by Milon. The Romanov Coronation Coach, first quarter 18th century. Oak, ash, beech and walnut, silver, iron,copper, bronze, steel, glass, leather, silk, cloth, gilt. 720.0 x 200.0 x 300.0 cm © The State Hermitage Museum, 2005.

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