Keywords: Christiane zu Mecklenburg by anonymous (c.1755, Royal coll.).jpg Princess Christina of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1735-1794 Princess Christina 1735-94 was the eldest daughter of Charles I duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and sister of Queen Charlotte Here she is wearing the ribbon and star of the Russian Order of St Catherine The Order of St Catherine was founded by Peter the Great in 1714 in honour of his wife the Empress Catherine The Order was only awarded to ladies of the highest distinction in Europe and there were two classes; The Grand Cross which entitled the bearer to wear a star and badge of the Order and the Small Cross which carried the right to wear the badge only As a dame of the first class Princess Christina wears the sash over their right shoulder “ the badge which would be attached to a bow embroidered with the motto of the order at her waist is not visible here The eight-pointed star was made of silver set with diamonds and in the centre was a silver cross on a scarlet enamel background surrounded by gold letters reading in Russian ˜For Love and For the Fatherland ™ The identity of the artist is not known 1766 painting Institution Royal Collection http //www royalcollection org uk/collection/420754/princess-christina-of-mecklenburg-strelitz-1735-1794 other versions PD-old-100 18th-century unidentified painters from Germany 1766c Portrait miniatures in the Royal Collection of the United Kingdom Images from the Royal Collection of the United Kingdom Duchess Christiane of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1766c 1766 portrait paintings F 18th-century oval portrait miniatures of women at bust length 1766c 18th-century portrait paintings in the Royal Collection of the United Kingdom 1766c Females with chokers in art 1766c Files uploaded by Shakko from various sources Portrait paintings of women with flowers on clothing 1766c Sash of the Order of St Catherine in portrait paintings |