She was really the greatest - much greater than her predecessor, Empress Elisabeth, who nevertheless was the daughter of the greatest of them all, Tsar Peter. Het was Catherine's model, her reference, her cultfigure. She had a grand equestrian statue of Peter made near the entrance of the Palace. The inscription, in all its (im)modesty, said, 'To Peter - From Catherine'. She favoured the arts and science, she corresponded with - and, later, talked to - people like Voltaire and Diderot. But although enlightened, she also remained a despot. She was popular with the Russian people, but she could be cruel and repressive. She had twelve lovers, but she let it be known that, had she had a good husband, she'd be a faithful wife (and she wouldn't have her husband killed...). She made Russia great (again) and her huge art collection formed the beginning of what would become the Hermitage Museum. And she inspired many film directors...
Now she is the centre of a great exhibition in the Hermitage Amsterdam.
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