Artist Valentin Serov became famous as a master of portraiture. Among his customers were representatives of the imperial dynasty of the Romanovs - Serov painted more than ten portraits of the august persons. We offer you to see the paintings of the famous Russian portrait painter and meet five representatives of the royal family.

Portrait of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich as a child

Portrait of the Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich as a child. 1893

About the portrait of his son, painted by Valentin Serov, Alexander III said: "Mishenka is as alive." The artist managed to catch a brief moment of elusive childhood: in the picture we see Mikhail growing up, almost a teenager. He is a little thoughtful, but his gaze still hides a childish dreaminess. The Tsarevich is dressed in the fashion of the late 19th century - in a white sailor suit. Thousands of ordinary boys also wore them at the turn of the century.

This painting is a sketch for a group portrait of the royal family. The painter was taken to work only three sessions, during which Mikhail and his sisters Ksenia and Olga posed for him. The rest had to be completed from memory. For Serov, this approach was unusual: he usually worked for a long time, several months in a row, paying special attention to detail.

The group portrait was exhibited for the first time in 1894 in the village of Borki, Kharkov province. In honor of the salvation of the royal family in a train accident, a church and a chapel were erected here. At the celebrations for their consecration, the portrait of the family of Alexander III hung in a separate pavilion, but many spectators mistook it for an icon and stopped to cross themselves.

Today the portrait of Mikhail Alexandrovich is kept in the State Russian Museum.

Portrait of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich

Portrait of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich. 1897

Portrait of Alexander III

Portrait of Alexander III. 1899

Alexander III Valentin Serov wrote several times. The 1893 group portrait of the imperial family was the only painting painted during the monarch's lifetime. The look of Alexander III in the 1899 painting had to be recreated from memory. Valentin Serov also relied on the photographs of the imperial photographer Sergei Levitsky.

In the painting, Alexander III looks both majestic and good-natured. He is depicted in the background of the Fredensborg Palace in Copenhagen in the uniform of an honorary colonel of the Danish Royal Life Guards. This title was awarded to the emperor by King Christian IX in 1879. Since then, during his visits to Denmark, Alexander III always wore an officer's uniform: a cocked hat with blue and white plumes and a scarlet ceremonial uniform. On it, in addition to the Russian highest awards, you can also see Danish ones: a blue ribbon, a star of the Order of the Elephant, a star and a cross of the Order of Danebrog.

The artist traveled to Denmark several times to make sketches from nature. One of the sergeants posed for him outside the palace instead of the emperor. The original of the imperial portrait is kept in Copenhagen, in the officers' fund of the Royal Life Guards.

Portrait of Emperor Nicholas II

Portrait of Emperor Nicholas II. 1900

A home portrait of Nicholas II, a gift to Alexandra Feodorovna, the artist created in just two meetings with the emperor. The original version of the painting has not survived: the revolutionaries who seized the Winter Palace ripped open the canvas with bayonets. However, Serov, having barely finished the portrait in 1900, immediately made a copy of it. He was worried about the fate of the painting, because the empress did not like it very much. During the sessions, Alexandra Feodorovna closely watched the artist and generously gave advice on how to "correct" the face of Nicholas II in the portrait. In the end, Valentin Serov could not resist, handed the empress a palette with brushes and invited her to finish the work herself.

The portrait of Nicholas II looks unfinished: it was painted with wide free strokes without subtle light transitions, the details of the canvas are not worked out. But the execution of the picture reflects the idea of ​​Valentin Serov. The artist wanted to show, first of all, a person - tired at the service, who came home after work. The canvas lacks the usual attributes of royal portraits - solemn interiors, ceremonial clothes, highest awards. Nicholas II is depicted in the jacket of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment, which he wore every day.

The canvas is kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna's exit from Matins

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna's exit from Matins. No later than 1901

Usually, 19th century artists created portrait drawings as sketches for large paintings. But watercolors and pencils by Valentin Serov are independent works of art.

The portrait of Alexandra Feodorovna is made in three colors: black, white and red. The artist built the composition of the picture so that the viewer looks at the image from the bottom up, because of this, the empress seems more majestic. Passing by the applicants, she distantly responds to their signs of attention. With smooth lines, Valentin Serov drew a strict and refined cut of her dress, an airy cape thrown off her shoulders. On the contrary, he depicted those around him with emphasized straight and broken lines, their faces are practically indistinguishable, and their figures are angular.

About Alexandra Fedorovna, a foreigner by birth, it was often said that her relationship with the court did not work out. During the ceremonies, the empress behaved with restraint: she was embarrassed by communication with strangers. However, official events were an obligatory part of the life of the court. Nicholas II wrote about one of them in his diary: “At 2 o'clock in the Winter Palace the ladies' steelyard began - 550 ladies! My dear Alix looked remarkably beautiful in a Russian dress. " In those years, the ceremony of kissing hands was called the steelyard.

A drawing depicting Empress Alexandra Feodorovna can be seen in the State Russian Museum.

Sleigh rides in the snow, hunting, family walks on the lake in white dresses and hats with wide brim - this is what an ordinary family looks like in photographs of the early 20th century. A family facing an unknown future and many years of life and prosperity. At least, such thoughts arise at the first glance at recently discovered photographs. Romanovs.

On them, the last tsarist family of Russia looks carefree and cheerful just a few years before they are shot.

The family footage was taken by photographer Herbert Galloway Stewart, an English teacher who was invited to teach Nicholas II's nephews, between 1908 and 1916. Now 22 annotated photo albums are on display at an exhibition at the London Science Museum called The Last Tsar. Blood and Revolution ("The last king. Blood and revolution").


The curator of the exhibition Natalia Sidlina said that she discovered previously unknown photographs by accident. Initially, the art critic was looking for materials for an exhibition about astronauts, and among the items provided by the curators of the National Museum of Science and Media in Bradford, I stumbled upon a wooden champagne crate from London's Harrods department store. "When I opened it, there were 22 photo albums - with photographs of the Romanovs."


An exhibition dedicated to the Romanovs opened on 20 September. Sidlina told The Guardian that the organizers of the exhibition wanted to show science, medicine and technology as key moments in the history of the Romanov family - both in their life and in death.


“The family was very powerful and rich, but the Romanovs were also scientifically developed - they had an X-ray in the palace, the eldest daughters and the queen were qualified nurses of the Red Cross, they had access to the latest technologies of their time, at least as far as medicine.


Our exhibition will shed some light on the unknown sides of a very confusing and complex story that attracts so much attention even 100 years later. "


"What struck me the most was how these photo albums are like the albums of ordinary families ... The Romanovs looked and behaved like an ordinary middle-class family."


Nicholas II with children on the lake near the Great Gatchina Palace, St. Petersburg, 1915.


Children of the Romanov family ride a sleigh.


Nicholas II plays snowballs with children.


Children ride bicycles in the snow.


Children of the imperial family sled outside the palace.


Nicholas II with children on the hunt.

Nicholas II is an ambiguous personality, historians speak of his rule by Russia very negatively, most of those who know, analyzing the history of personalities are inclined to believe that the last All-Russian emperor was not very interested in politics, did not keep up with the times, slowed down the development of the country, was not a shrewd ruler, was not was able to catch the stream in time, did not keep his nose to the wind. And even when everything practically went to hell, dissatisfaction was already being built up not only from the lower classes, but also from the upper classes, even then Nicholas II could not draw any correct conclusions. He did not believe that his removal from the government of the country was real; in fact, he was doomed to become the last autocrat in Russia. But as a family man, Nicholas II was excellent. He would be, for example, the Grand Duke, and not the emperor, not delve into politics. Five children are not a joke, their upbringing requires a lot of attention and strength. Nicholas II loved his wife for many years, in separation from her he yearned, did not lose either physical or mental attraction to her, even after many years of marriage.

I have collected many photographs of Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra Feodorovna (nee Princess Victoria Alice Helena Louise Beatrice of Hesse-Darmstadt, daughter of Ludwig IV), their children: daughters Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, son Alexei.

This family was very fond of being photographed, and the frames turned out to be very beautiful, spiritualized, light. Look at the attractive faces of the children of the last Russian emperor. These girls did not know marriage, they never met with their beloved and could not know the happiness and sorrows of love. And they died a martyr's death. Although they were not guilty of anything. In those days, many died. But this family was the most famous, the most high-ranking and its death still haunts no one, a black page in the history of Russia, the brutal murder of the royal family. The fate of these children was as follows: girls were born in turbulent times. Many dream of being born in a palace, with a golden spoon in their mouths: to be princesses, princes, kings, queens, kings and queens. But how often did the life of the blue-blooded people turn out to be difficult? They were hijacked, killed, hounded, strangled, and very often their own people, close to the royal persons, destroyed and occupied the vacant throne, attracting with its limitless possibilities.

Alexander II was blown up by the People's Will, Paul II was killed by conspirators, Peter III died under mysterious circumstances, Ivan VI was also destroyed, the list of these unfortunates can be continued for a very long time. Yes, and those who were not killed did not live long by today's standards, they will get sick, then they will undermine their health when governing the country. And after all, it is not only in Russia that such a high mortality rate of monarchs was, there are countries where it was even more dangerous for reigning personalities. But all the same, everyone was always so eagerly eager to get to the throne, and they pushed their children there at any cost. I wanted, though not for long, but to live well, beautifully, go down in history, take advantage of all the benefits, arrive in luxury, have the opportunity to order slaves, decide the fate of people and rule the country.

But Nicholas II never longed to be emperor, but he understood that being the ruler of the Russian Empire was his duty, his destiny, especially since he was a fatalist in everything.

Today we are not going to talk about politics, we are just going to look at the pictures.

In this photo you see Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Fedorovna, as the couple dressed for a costume ball.

In this photo, Nicholas II is still very young, his antennae are just breaking through.

Nicholas II as a child.

In this photo, Nicholas II with the long-awaited heir Alexei.

Nicholas II with his mother Maria Fedorovna.

In this photo, Nicholas II with his parents, sisters and brothers.


Renouncing the throne, Nicholas II tried to agree on the fulfillment of certain conditions for himself and his family. At that time, the Romanovs were not yet going to be sent to Tobolsk, so the abdicated emperor insisted on the absence of tight security and unhindered passage to the family in Tsarskoye Selo. Most of all, Nikolai hoped that the children would be able to stay at home for a long time without risking their own safety. At that time, they were sick with measles and any travel could worsen their condition. Also, Romanov Sr. asked permission to travel to England for himself and his family.

First, the Provisional Government agrees to fulfill all the conditions. But already on March 8, 1917, General Mikhail Alekseev informs the tsar that he "can consider himself arrested, as it were." After some time from London, which had previously agreed to accept the Romanov family, a notification of refusal comes. On March 21, the former Emperor Nicholas II and his entire family were officially taken into custody.

A little more than a year later, on July 17, 1918, the last royal family of the Russian Empire will be shot in a cramped basement in Yekaterinburg. The Romanovs suffered hardships, moving closer and closer to their gloomy finale. Let's take a look at rare photos of members of the last tsarist family of Russia, taken some time before the execution.


1. After the February Revolution of 1917, the last tsarist family of Russia, by decision of the Provisional Government, was sent to the Siberian city of Tobolsk to protect it from the wrath of the people. A few months earlier, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated the throne, as a result of which the more than three hundred-year reign of the Romanov dynasty was interrupted.


2. The Romanovs began their five-day journey to Siberia in August, on the eve of the 13th birthday of Tsarevich Alexei. The seven family members were joined by 46 servants and a military escort. The day before reaching their destination, the Romanovs sailed past Rasputin's hometown, whose eccentric influence on politics might have made a dark contribution to their mournful ending.


3. The family arrived in Tobolsk on August 19 and began to live in relative comfort on the banks of the Irtysh River. In the Governor's Palace, where they were placed, the Romanovs were well fed and they could communicate a lot with each other, without being distracted by state affairs and official events. Children put on plays for their parents, the family often went to the city for religious services - this was the only form of freedom they allowed.


4. When at the end of 1917 the Bolsheviks came to power, slowly but surely the tightening of the regime of the royal family began. The Romanovs were banned from attending church and generally leaving the territory of the mansion. Soon coffee, sugar, butter and cream disappeared from their kitchen, and the soldiers assigned to protect them wrote obscene and offensive words on the walls and fences of their homes.


5. Things got worse and worse. In April 1918, a commissar, a certain Yakovlev, arrived with an order to transport the former tsar from Tobolsk. The Empress was adamant in her desire to accompany her husband, but Comrade Yakovlev had other orders that complicated things. At this time, Tsarevich Alexei, suffering from hemophilia, because of a bruise, began to suffer from paralysis of both legs, and everyone expected that he would be left in Tobolsk, and the family would be divided during the war.


6. The demands of the Commissioner to move were adamant, so Nikolai, his wife Alexandra and one of their daughters, Maria, soon left Tobolsk. They eventually took a train to travel through Yekaterinburg to Moscow, where the Red Army was headquartered. However, Commissar Yakovlev was arrested for trying to save the royal family, and the Romanovs got off the train in Yekaterinburg, in the heart of the Bolshevik-occupied territory.


7. In Yekaterinburg, the other children also joined the parents - all of them were locked in the Ipatiev house. The family was placed on the second floor and completely cut off from the outside world, the windows were boarded up and guards were posted at the door. Until the end of their days, the Romanovs were allowed to go out into the fresh air for only five minutes a day.


8. In early July 1918, the Soviet authorities began to prepare for the execution of the royal family. The ordinary soldiers on the guard were replaced by representatives of the Cheka, and the Romanovs were allowed to go to church services for the last time. The priest who conducted the service later admitted that none of the family spoke a word during the service. On July 16, the day of the murder, five trucks were ordered with barrels of benzidine and acid to quickly dispose of the bodies.


9. Early in the morning of July 17, the Romanovs were gathered and told about the offensive of the White Army. The family believed that they were simply being transferred to a small lighted basement for their own protection, because soon it would be unsafe here. Approaching the place of his execution, the last Tsar of Russia walked past trucks, one of which will soon contain his body, not even suspecting what a terrible fate awaits his wife and children.


10. In the basement, Nikolai was told that he would be executed now. Not believing his own ears, he asked: "What?" - immediately after which the Chekist Yakov Yurovsky shot the tsar. Another 11 people pulled the trigger, flooding the basement with the blood of the Romanovs. Alexei survived the first shot, but was finished off by Yurovsky's second shot. The next day, the bodies of members of the last royal family of Russia were burned 19 km from Yekaterinburg, in the village of Koptyaki.

With the advent of new technologies, the history of a large country and a single event or personality can be viewed from a different perspective. Specialists-restorers do a colossal amount of work every day to turn historical photographs from black-and-white and faded ones into color and high-quality ones.

Today we will look at the new restored photographs of the royal family. Many of them are unique, since most of the photographs of the imperial family are still stored in the photo archives of England and the United States, and they are practically not available in the public domain.

Emperor Nicholas II and Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich

Nikolai Nikolaevich Jr. devoted his whole life to military service. On the eve of the First World War, he was appointed by Nicholas the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of all land and sea forces.

Throughout his life, awards and ranks fell on the prince as if from a cornucopia. Nikolai Nikolaevich - received the nickname "Cunning" in the army for excessive ambition, thirst for power.

Nicholas II on the station platform, to the right of the emperor - Colonel A.A. Mordvinov, January 30, 1916.

Still Tsarevich Nicholas, still Princess Alix, April 1894

Tsar Nicholas with his four daughters: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia

The Emperor along with his son and army officers in 1915.

Alexey and Nikolay - Livadia Palace

Nicholas II with his daughter Tatyana and sister Olga Alexandrovna, as well as an officer on the deck of the yacht "Standart"

Tsar Nikolai and his family

Alexander III family photo, 1889.

From left to right: Prince Alfred of Saxe-Coburg-Got; Tsar Nicholas II; Ernst Ludwig; Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Coburg, 1897

Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna during a visit to Great Britain with King Edward VII and future King George V. 1909 Barton Manor

Imperial family in Crimea.

Nikolai and Admiral Sablin talking to Alexandra aboard the imperial yacht Standart, 1912


Alexey with his parents at Headquarters

Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexey.

A family. Grand Duke Ernie, Tsarina Alexandra with Tsar Nicholas II, Princess Irene and Henry of Prussia, Princess Elizabeth and Grand Duke Sergei, Princess Victoria and Prince Louis of Battenberg.

Alix and the children

One of the last and most famous family portraits of the imperial family, 1913

The Russian Imperial Family aboard the Polar Star, 1905. Seems like a windy day!

Grand Duchesses of Russia with their English aunt Victoria.

Tsar Nicholas II with his second daughter in Germany