Artist's attention was drown to legendary and historic buccaneer - well known Elizabeth Tarakanov (approximately 1745-1775), presenting her self as the daughter of empress Elizabeth Petrovny and claiming the ownership of the Russian throne. By the order of Catherine II, Count A.G.Orlov deviously brought Tarakanova from Italy to St.-Petersburg where she was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress and where she died of tuberculosis. Flavitsky, chosen another, not confirmed version of her death portraying dramatic event in more romantic manner.