She Had a Very Regal Funeral
Catherine the Great’s posthumous arrangements were as grand as her reign. Placed in a coffin adorned with golden fabric, she wore an elegant silver brocade dress for her final presentation in the Grand Gallery’s chamber of mourning.
Her body lay in state for six weeks, surrounded by the coats of arms of all Russian towns. Madame Vigée Le Brun’s memoirs described the scene, emphasizing the magnificence of Catherine’s regal farewell despite the inevitable effects of time on her preserved body.
