Figure 1.--This wonderful family image shows Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna with four of her children (1849). They are: Maria, Princess Romanovskaja (1841-1914), Nicholas, 4th Duke of Leuchtenberg (1843-91), Eugenia, Princess Romanovskaja (1845-1925), and Eugen, 5th Duke of Leuchtenberg (1847-1901). Still unborn are: Prince Sergei of Leuchtenberg (1849-77) and George, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg (1852-1912). Princess Maria wears a low-neck white dress. Prince Nicholas weas a burgundy tunic suit. Princess Eugenia wears a blouse and plaid skirt, something you do not commonly see in these high society portraits. We suspect the kilt-like outfit was in honor of the artist. The portrait was painted by Scottish artist Christina Robertson who painted many portraits of the Russian nobility. Click on the image for information on Robertson.

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna (Мария Николаевна) was born before her father rose to the throne. She was a elest daughter of Tsar Nicholas I and sister of Alexander II. She was educated with her sisters Olga and Alexandra. Their education was standard for girls at the time and focused on dance, music, and drawing, Maria became quite a competent artist in her own right doing water colors. They grew up in the water palace, but their childhood was by no means luxurious. They were had a strict regime of fresh air in all sesons and their diet was closely rgulated. She married Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg, not a very prestigious match for the elder daughter of a tsar and sister of another tsar. Leuchtenberg was a princely title created twice by the monarchs of Bavaria for their relatives. It is based on a town in Bavaria. And of all things, the dUke had Bonapartist family connections. Maria had, however, fallen in love with the handsome Duke. Society or noble rank meant very little to her. The Tsar this decided to give permission to his talented and strong-willed daughter to marry the Duke. And the Duke's limited resources meant that he had no problem living in Russia on which Maria insisted. He did not remain faithful which was not uncommon for weathy men at the time. They had seven children, all but one reached adulthood. Prince Sergei was killed in the Russo-Turkish War (1877). The Duke was interested in science and contracted tuberculosis because of his mining activities (1852). The Granduchess was an avid art collector and President of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.

Created: 6:38 PM 8/17/2017
Last updated: 6:38 PM 8/17/2017