She’s heading back home for a while.
Catherine the Great is taking a break from the Maltese Islands and has jetted off to freezing Moscow, Russia. Before you question your sanity, we’re talking about a prestigious portrait of the Russian Empress.
Heritage Malta have announced that the “extraordinary painting is visiting Moscow for five months before returning to the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta.”
A cliffnotes version of Cathy’s bio
Catherine the Great was “Russia’s longest-ruling female leader and certainly a force to be reckoned with,” Heritage Malta writes in their Facebook post. Basically, she was a boss lady and no one messed with her. “After seizing power by overthrowing her husband the King, Russia grew to become one of the largest and strongest powers in Europe.” What’d I tell ya? Boss. Lady. They even produced a mini series about the woman.
The empress’ connection with Malta
The empress also has a connection to Malta, having given a portrait of hers as a “diplomatic gift to Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan Polduc in 1790 as a sign of her gratitude for maritime services and help by the Order of St John against their common enemy: the Ottoman Empire,” Heritage Malta says.
The portrait was hung in the Ambassadors’ Room within the palace, which has welcomed important visitors from all over the world by Grandmasters, Governors and Presidents through time. And after 230 years, the painting is taking a trip to its homeland.
Happy travels, Cathy!