The Romanovs and Catherine the Great's Art Collection

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Catherine the Great's passion for art collecting, which transformed the Hermitage into one of the world's greatest museums. They discuss how Catherine acquired major collections from Europe, including the paintings of Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky and the library of Voltaire. The conversation covers her relationship with Enlightenment thinkers like Diderot, whom she bought his library. They also delve into the controversy over Catherine's purchase of the Houghton Hall collection from Britain, which sparked debates about national heritage. The episode highlights how Catherine's cultural ambitions were intertwined with her political goals of positioning Russia as a European power. Listeners will learn about the key figures involved, such as the diplomat Dmitry Golitsyn who facilitated many acquisitions, and the artists whose works Catherine coveted, including Rembrandt and Van Dyck. The episode also touches on the fire of 1837 that damaged the Winter Palace and the efforts to save the Hermitage collection. This is a story of power, prestige, and the enduring legacy of imperial collecting. #CatherineTheGreat #HermitageMuseum #ArtCollection #RussianHistory #Enlightenment #Voltaire #Diderot #JohannErnstGotzkowsky #DmitryGolitsyn #HoughtonHall #Rembrandt #VanDyck #WinterPalace #ImperialRussia #History #FexingoHistory #18thCentury #EuropeanArt Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo