Catherine II the Legislatress in the Temple of the Goddess of Justice

The 1783 version of Catherine II the Legislatress in the Temple of the Goddess of Justice, held at the Russian Museum, is Levitzky's second major treatment of this allegory, distinct from the 1780 Tretyakov canvas in specific compositional details while preserving the essential philosophical program. The three-year gap between the two versions reflects the sustained currency of this image — Catherine II's self-presentation as lawgiver was a consistent theme of her reign, not a single gesture. The Russian Museum version may have been intended for a different audience or a different institutional context than its predecessor, possibly for the empress's own private collection or for a specific governmental building where the legislation theme was institutionally appropriate. Levitzky's repeated engagement with this composition demonstrates both its importance to his career and the sustained demand for images of the empress as philosophical ruler.

Oil on canvas as a large-scale allegorical portrait, sharing the general compositional and chromatic approach of the 1780 version while introducing variations in specific elements. Levitzky's handling of the allegorical props — the altar, the eagle, the distant fleet — would be refined from the earlier version, benefiting from three years of reflection.