Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-Lebrun: Princess Dolgoruki

"Princess Ecaterina Feodorovna Dolgorouk"
by Vigee-Lebrun

When in Russia, Elisabeth Louise Vigee Lebrun was introduced to many memorable members of the upper class. She wrote of Princess Dolgoruki in this way: 

"Count Cobentzel very much wished me to make the acquaintance of a woman whose cleverness and beauty I had often heard vaunted – the Princess Dolgoruki. I received an invitation from her to dine at Alexandrovski, where she had a country house. The beauty of Princess Dolgoruki struck me very much. Her features had the Greek character mixed with something Jewish, especially in profile. Her long, dark chestnut hair, carelessly taken up, touched her shoulders. Her figure was perfect, and in her whole person she exhibited at once nobility and grace without the least affectation. She received me with so much amiability and civility that I willingly acceded to her request that I might stay a week with her.

Count Cobentzel was passionately devoted to the Princess Dolgoruki, without her responding in the least to his importunities; but the coolness she showed toward his intentions by no means drove him away. His sole object was the happiness of being in her presence; whether in the country or in town, he scarcely ever left her for a moment.

What made the Princess Dolgoruki indifferent to the sighs of Count Cobentzel and to those of many other admirers was the fact that from one of them she had received attentions more brilliant than ever woman had had lavished upon her by any lovelorn king. The famous Potemkin – he who had said the word 'impossible' should be ruled out of the dictionary – had testified his adoration for her with a magnificence surpassing all that we read of in the 'Thousand and One Nights.'

Her name, too, was Catherine, and the Prince made a great banquet for her, nominally in honour of the Empress. At table the Princess was seated by his side. At dessert, on the table were put crystal goblets full of diamonds, which were served to the ladies by the spoonful. The queen of the festival observing this luxury, Potemkin whispered to her, 'Since this celebration is for you, why should you be astonished at anything?' He would spare no sacrifice to satisfy a wish or a whim of that charming woman. Learning one day that she was in want of ball slippers of a kind she usually sent for to France, Potemkin dispatched an express messenger to Paris, who hastened day and night to bring back these slippers.

No woman, it seems so me, had greater dignity of mien and manner than Princess Dolgoruki. Having seen my 'Sibyl,' about which she was very enthusiastic, she wished me to make her portrait in this style, and I had the pleasure of doing her bidding to her entire satisfaction. The portrait done, she sent me a very handsome carriage, and put on my arm a bracelet made of a tress of her hair with a diamond inscription reading, 'Adorn her who adorns her century.' I was deeply touched by the graciousness and delicacy of such a gift." 

To be continued