Catherine II, Empress of Russia

myminifactory

Fedot Ivanovich Shubin was born in 1740 as Fedot Shubnoi, son of a fisherman from Russia's White Sea coast. As a child, he demonstrated exceptional skills in carving bone and mother-of-pearl. In 1759, Shubin traveled to St. Petersburg where he enrolled in the Imperial Academy, studying under Nicholas-François Gillet from 1761 to 1767. After completing his studies, Shubin moved to Paris thanks to a recommendation from Diderot, who was friends with Dmitry Golitsyn, Russia's Ambassador. Under the guidance of famous sculptor Pigalle, Shubin refined his skills from 1767 to 1770. He then worked in Rome from 1770 to 1772 and briefly collaborated with Nollekens in London in 1773. Shubin emerged as a prominent Russian Neoclassical sculptor. His portrait busts were similar in style to those created elsewhere, particularly in France. Shubin executed various sculptures, including free-standing works, architectural decorations, and notable portraits of Russia's aristocracy, such as the Golitzyn family, who allegedly owned this bust. He also carved a celebrated full-length marble sculpture of Catherine the Legislator in 1789, now housed at the Russian Museum in St Petersburg. This highly polished bust from 1771 showcases Shubin's mastery of combining formality with a lively smile. It has been recreated in bronze and biscuit porcelain and remains an iconic representation of Catherine the Great, who championed Neoclassicism in her architectural projects and collections. Gallery location: Europe 1600-1815, Room 1, case PL1 This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative created by MyMiniFactory. Through this project, we are compiling a digital archive of fully printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort. If you have items you'd like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned using photogrammetry with Agisoft PhotoScan software. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.