On April 3, 2026, the Mariupol Local History Museum will host the exhibition “Catherine the Great: A Look Through the Centuries.” This exhibition is part of the “Art Unites the World” project.

The central exhibit is a decree issued by Catherine II “on the settlement of Christians who were brought from Crimea.” This document provided guarantees for Greek and Armenian settlers and led to the establishment of Mariupol.

Enzo created several artworks for the exhibition depicting Catherine the Great and Italian cultural figures — architects, painters, sculptors, and musicians, — who worked at the court and played a significant role in shaping the artistic landscape of Catherine’s era. Enzo’s paintings feature images of clouds, which give them a sense of grandeur and elevated detachment. These works serve as a visual reminder of the close friendship and fruitful collaboration that has existed between Russia and Italy for centuries.

The exhibition also features the “Grand Portrait of Catherine the Great,” an artwork by Russian monumental artist Vadim Bakulin, the founder of the Kirov Amber Workshop. Vadim’s artistic endeavors are deeply rooted in historical themes. The “Grand Portrait” is a synthesis of traditional portrait painting and the unique technique of working with amber.

The artwork has already gained recognition among viewers. It was previously exhibited at the VDNKh (Moscow, Russia) in the Kirov Region Pavilion, where it became a prominent exhibit that captured the attention of visitors. The success of the work was also confirmed abroad: in 2025, the “Grand Portrait of Catherine the Great” represented Russia at the “Import” exhibition in Shanghai, China, where it aroused great interest from the foreign public and received high praise from the specialized press.

An equally significant part of the exhibition consists of historical graphic materials from Svetlana Antonova’s private collection. This collection allows us to trace the evolution of Catherine the Great’s image in art over the course of a century and a half. The exhibition features both lifetime images of the Empress created by 18th-century artists, as well as later interpretations from the 19th and early 20th centuries by Russian and foreign artists. The graphics from the Antonova Collection not only showcase the high level of artistic skill, but also serve as valuable historical documents reflecting the changing artistic tastes, political sentiments, and public perception of Catherine’s persona throughout different eras.

The exhibition “Catherine the Great: A Look Through the Centuries” is a unique space where Italian plastic expressiveness and Russian monumental school, classical graphics and modern author’s techniques coexist, united by the image of Catherine the Great. Come and see the works for yourself.

Venue: 20 Georgievskaya Street, Mariupol, Russia, Mariupol Museum of Local History.

TASS news agency report on the exhibition: https://tass.ru/kultura/26996997.

Partners of the project:

  • Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry Committee for Culture
  • Russian House in Rome
  • Troya LLC
  • RusPomoshch Foundation
  • The “Art Unites the World” Academy

Exhibition curator: Marianna Gnezdilova.