For 67 of the 71 years between 1725 and 1796, four women were the rulers of Imperial Russia. They were Catherine I, Anna, Elizabeth and Catherine II. You can see several of their likenesses in The Portrait Room. Elizabeth of Russia reigned from 1741 until 1762. This portrait of her was painted by Heinrich Buchholz in 1768. As court artist, Buchholz created several paintings of the Imperial family including a portrait of Catherine the Great also displayed in this room.
