Elizabeth Petrovna
1756
Empress Elizabeth of Russia demanded nothing but the best, and this lavish 1756 portrait by French artist Louis Tocqué delivers just that. Dripping in gold embroidery, ermine fur, and the blue sash of the Order of St. Andrew, she poses with the casual confidence of someone who seized the throne in a coup. The Rococo style shines through in the swirling fabrics and opulent details, capturing a ruler who loved fashion, parties, and power in equal measure. She reportedly owned thousands of dresses and banned anyone at court from wearing the same outfit as her!