Tsarina Elisabeth astride a horse performing a courbette, Tsarina and mount with heads turned to the left, in the right hand a roll of parchment, in the left hand the reins, wearing the uniform of a colonel in the Preobraschenski guard regiment with tall black bucket top boots, a black tricorn and a green skirt trimmed with gilt borders, on her chest and sash the star of the Cross of the Order of St Andrew, next to the horse a servant Moor looking up at the Tsarina, the plinth encrusted with polychrome leaves and flowers; Tsarina Catherine II. astride a dappled grey, in the right hand a rapier, in the left hand the reins, wearing a black tricorn, her long hair tied with a black ribbon, the light blue coat with gilt buttons, black artillery boots, a light purple band with the Russian order, light purple caparison and holster with gilt designs and fringed border, the rocaille base heightened with gilt and with light green palm branches, porcelain, polychromed and gilt, height: 24 cm, height: 25,5 cm, minor restorations, Meissen, underglaze blue crossed swords 2nd half 19th cent., model no. 1059, C 92, former no. 133, 127, painter no. 4, 58 (Ru)

Tsarina Elisabeth Petrowna's military dress reflects the fact that it was the Preobraschenski-Regiment which was instrumental in gaining her the imperial crown during Elisabeth's December 1741 coup d'état against Tsarina Anna Iwanowna. Kändler created this group ca. 1743 after a copy of the painting by Georg Christoph Grooth, 1716–1749, at the Moscow Tretjakow- Gallery. The depiction of Tsarina Catherine II. is based on a portrait by the painter Virgilius Eriksen 1762 which shows her wearing the uniform of the Semjonowskij-Regiment. The work report of J. J. Kändler, 1706–1775, shows one version dating to June 1770 and a revised version of September 1770. Lit.: Meissen für die Zaren, Munich 2004, p57, ill. 46,47, p101, ill. 165;