Catherine the Great appreciates art: from St Petersburg to Melbourne

I was excited to virtually revisit the Hermitage at the National Gallery Victoria in Melbourne today, to learn more about the art loves and life of Catherine the Great. I was glad that I opted for the multimedia tour because Virginia Trioli, my favourite ABC news reader took us on a journey to recreate important aspects of Catherine's life through the metaphor of art masterpieces in each of the 8 rooms themed by country. I was surprised to learn that Catherine was born Sophie in Stettin, on the German Polish border, and that she was sent to marry another German, all within the Russian aristocratic tradition. She was married young at 16 and while she didn't leave Russia, she had a very open mind and communicated with French philosophers and travelled virtually through her artistic acquisitions. She seemed to be an educated, energetic and resilient woman.

I was surprised to learn that her marriage was not a happy one and that her lovers had conspired in the overthrow, abdication and death of her husband Peter; leaving her space to take the throne. I loved that she chose not to marry but instead seemed to have a series of influential lovers that she moved on as and when appropriate... Meanwhile the art was also a great surprise; with several otherwise unseen Rembrandts, one a private scene of a lady admiring her pearl earrings. I loved the majestic Rubens, and even enjoyed some of the traditional scenes of aristrocratic kitchens alongside peasants doing the washing and travelling with their donkeys. All in all a great exhibition for art, culture and history.