Completed in 1864, the painting depicts the story of Princess Tarakanova, who was imprisoned during the reign of Empress Catherine II.

[2] The plot for the painting was based on the legend of Princess Tarakanova's death during the flood in Saint Petersburg on September 21, 1777 (historical records show that she died two years before this event).

For example, in the poem "Soul," Boris Pasternak writes: "you fight like Princess Tarakanova fought when the ravelin was flooded in February."

The story of Princess Tarakanova, a social climber who claimed to be the daughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and sister of Yemelyan Pugachev, served as the basis for creating the painting.

By order of Empress Catherine II, she was arrested and in May 1775 was taken to the Peter and Paul Fortress, where she was subjected to lengthy interrogation by Field Marshal Prince Golitsyn, during which she gave various testimonies.