Countries

Grigorij Grigorjewitsch Orlow

Count Grigorij Grigorjewitsch Orlow (1734-1783) played an eminent though not indisputable part in Russian history. The son of a governor of Nowgorod had been militarily trained in St. Petersburg and later served in the Seven Years' War. Tsarina Catherine the Great had a long lasting love affair with Orlow. He was the leader of the plot against her husband, Tsar Peter III, who was murdered in 1762. Thereupon Orlow succeeded in having Catherine proclaimed Tsarina. She decorated him with high military honours, in 1753 he received an earldom, in 1772 the title of prince. In the same year Catherine, however, turned away from him and towards other lovers. He could not win her back, not even by grandiose presents like a precious gem, which since then became famous as the Orlow-diamand. ¹ His and Catherine's son, Aleksej Bobrinski, founded the line of the earls of Bobrinski.

Orlow is portrayed here as lieutenant-general in the uniform of the guard cavalry. He wears the waistcoat of the officers' uniform with the Polish Order of the White Eagle and a helmet, richly decorated with fur and feathers. ²

B.P.

¹ The gem - one of the largest diamond worldwide - had been offered for sale to Catherine herself, but she did not respond to the offer because of the high price. Later she had it integrated into her sceptre.

² We are very grateful to Mr.Karl Trefzer for identifying the sitter.