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# The 1852 Icelandic “Snow White”, Catherine II and Russian-Danish Relations
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/v-izdannom-v-1852-godu-islandskom-perelozhenii-belosnezhki-s-illiustratsiiami-teodora-khosemanna-koroleva-porazitelno-pokhozha-na-ekaterinu-ii/
- Published: 2019-09-30T15:51:28.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T19:05:19.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Art, Books, Monarchies, Observations

In an Icelandic retelling of "Snow White" published in 1852, with illustrations by Theodor Hosemann, the queen bears a striking resemblance to [Catherine II](https://theparnassian.com/portret-ekateriny-ii-neizvestnogo-khudozhnika/?ref=theparnassian.com). Well, a fine touch for Russo-Danish relations. Iceland at that time, as a result of the Danish-Norwegian union, formed part of Denmark.

Russia's friendship with Denmark is attested by the simple fact that in 1864 the heir to the Russian throne would propose to a Danish princess. But Catherine II, too, could hardly fail to remain in popular memory, for she resolved the greatest territorial conflict in Europe in the eighteenth century. Under Catherine I and Peter III, Russia stood on the threshold of a war with Denmark, which never came to pass because of a palace coup; Catherine II, in the name of her son, handed the disputed Gottorp inheritance, that is, Schleswig-Holstein, over to Denmark, and Paul I added to this generous gesture Oldenburg and Delmenhorst in north-western Germany. The result was an interesting scheme for transferring enormous possessions to a relative of Catherine II, and whether it served the interests of Russia is far from certain.

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_1854@30-09-2019_18-51-28.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_1855@30-09-2019_18-51-28.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_1856@30-09-2019_18-51-28.jpg)