Terrible tsarinas

Empress Anna Ivanovna on her coronation day (1730).

Portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna,

Empress of Russia (1741-1762), daughter of Peter the Great.

Copper engraving, 1761, by Georg

Friedrich Schmidt (1696-1772), after a 1758 painting by Louis Toque (1696-1772).

Elizabeth 1st (1709-1762) on the anniversary of her coronation day.

The soldiers swear their fidelity to her. Russian School (1883).

St. Petersburg, The Hermitage Museum. Photo Josse.

Elizabeth Petrovna, Empress of Russia (1741-1761).

“Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna, Portrait on horseback, with a Moor.”

Painted in 1743 by Georg Christoph Grooth (1716-1749). Detail.

Painted on canvas, 85 x 68.3 cm.

Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery.

Catherine II the Great (17291796) in her coronation gown.

By Stefano Torelli (1712-1784),

Italian School.

St. Petersburg, The Hermitage

Museum. Photo Josse.

Catherine II the Great. Empress of

Russia (1729-1796).

“The Coronation of Catherine II.”

Painted in 1777 by Stefano Torelli.

Oil on canvas. Moscow. AKG Photo.