Sunday, February 28, 2021

Letter to Alexandra from Alexei, dated June 11, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook


The letter:

Mogilev 11 June 1916
My dear Mama,
I am pretty sure ZHILIK is writing you some rubbish, so I am distracting him. We are all well. May God protect you +! 
Lovingly yours, 
Your old
Alexei


Above: Alexandra.


Above: Alexei.

"The Princess Aline" (1895), a novel based on Alix

Sources:


The novel can be read here:



Above: The fictional Princess Aline of Hohenwald.


Above: Alix.

The 800th post on this blog!

The Princess Aline is a novelette written by the American author Richard Harding Davis. It first debuted in Harper's Monthly before being published in its entirety in 1895; it even became the 5th best-selling novel in the United States for that year. Davis based the novel and its titular character on Alix and his infatuation with her, as the princess's name and likeness in the illustrations makes clear, complete with the birth month and year as June 1872 and the middle names of Victoria-Beatrix-Louise-Helene.

The story is that of a young American artist (obviously a fictional version of the author) who boards a steamship headed for Europe so he can meet the princess Aline of Hohenwald, whom he fell in love with after seeing a picture of her, and is joined by companions he meets along the way.

In an amusing twist, Davis was told by a royal attendant that Alix's grandmother, Queen Victoria, and her surviving daughters had all read the book and enjoyed it. When he asked whether they approved of the ending, in which the princess Aline does not marry the commoner, he was told "of course", "they realized that no other conclusion would have been possible."

Dr. Vladimir Derevenko's letter to Alexandra, dated May 31, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook



Above: Alexandra.


Above: Alexei with Dr. Derevenko in earlier years.

The letter:

31/V [1916]
Your Imperial Majesty.
Day 2 was very hot and stuffy, it was so warm that Alexei Nikolaevich was allowed to run along the sand on the bank of the Dnieper barefoot and even go into the water, the t[emperature] of which = 18-19° R. This circumstance gave grounds for Alexei Nikolaievich to ask permission to swim.

Discussing this request, Sergei Petrovich and I came to the conclusion that it could be satisfied on the condition that the day would be clear, warm, without wind, that the t[emperature] of water would not be lower than 19° and that A. N. will sit in the water no more than 5-8' [minutes], and then get dressed and rest in the sun. Our meeting and the results of the meeting do not have the force of law without the sanction of Your Majesty and A. N. was notified of this. He behaves well, and if at times he goes beyond what is permitted, then adults are partly to blame. Yesterday (30/V) in the morning A. N. with his August Father prayed before the Miraculous Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God.

A prayer service was held before the Headquarters in the square. It was raining. After the Prayer, A. N. went running with a wet head as a result, has a cold today. The hand (left), which was almost better, ceased to bend for several hours today. A. N. does not complain about pain and remains in good spirits. I had thought to ask Your Majesty for permission to start a mud treatment here, but I decided that it was absolutely impossible to treat him here with anything, and even more so with mud, since Alexei Nikolaevich spends all day in public and is busy all day, and meanwhile the left elbow strongly requires vigorous treatment. The fact is that in the joint as a result of repeated exudates, lasting changes that can interfere with the functions of the joint are developing.

His Highness has just conveyed to me Your Majesty's gracious greetings. Deeply touched, I ask Your Majesty and the Grand Duchesses to accept the feelings of my heartfelt gratitude and devotion.
Your Imperial Majesty's devoted servant 
V. Derevenko.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Pallisander Room recreated fireplace and original carpet, tassels and fabric samples

Source:

GMZ Tsarskoe Selo










"One of Empress Alexandra's personal rooms in the East Wing of the Alexander Palace, the Palisander Drawing Room was originally conceived as a 'reception sitting room' and a music salon, with a small grand piano and lots of pieces of comfortable furniture for guests.

Known as the Blue Drawing Room in the mid-19th century, it was one of the former private rooms of Grand Duchess Maria, Emperor Alexander II's daughter. Outdated and slightly dilapidated by the 1890s, the interior was renovated in 1895-96 by the architect Robert Melzer, co-owner and head of the artistic department of the Melzer Furniture Trading House in St Petersburg. The Art Nouveau or Siegfried Bing's style, which became a new art phenomenon after the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in Paris, was chosen as the renovation style.

Prior to the renovation, a selection of French fabric samples for walls, furniture upholstery and curtains were presented for consideration by Nicholas II and Alexandra. On 24 May 1895, Nicholas recorded in his diary, 'After breakfast, we chose materials and carpets for our rooms in the Alexander Palace.' A month later, on 24 June 1895, the terms of the contract for the renovation of the former 'reception sitting room' and the supply of French upholstery fabrics and trimmings were entered into the order book of Melzer's company.

The renovated interior was named Palisander Drawing Room. The doors were made of palisander (rosewood). The fireplace and the lower part of the walls lined with yellowish French fabric, were faced with polished palisander panels. Throughout the interior were palisander furniture pieces, some of them with oak intarsia decoration.

Over time, the room was embellished with numerous items according to the tastes and interests of members of the imperial family. On the mantelpiece, Art Nouveau clocks co-existed with Royal Danish Porcelain. Works of Russian and foreign artists decorated the walls. Many items were reminders of the empress' homeland, Darmstadt and the Hesse Landgrave. Such was a large landscape by Eugen Bracht with a view of Schloss Romrod, the ancestral castle of her family. Watercolours with views of Darmstadt and its environs were inserted into a wide screen. The shelves of palisander panels were adorned with various objects, some of them made by members of the imperial family, and numerous framed photographs.  

During their first years in the Alexander Palace, Nicholas and Alexandra often spent time in solitude in this room, which also served as the preferred place for breakfast and lunch for the entire family. Close relatives and distinguished guests were often invited to informal dinners with the imperial family in this room.

The decor and furnishings of this interior were lost during the Second World War. In 2002, before the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg, the Alexander Palace was presented with an exact copy of the Wilton carpet that once decorated the Palisander Drawing Room. Mr Larry Hokanson, a U.S. carpet designer, re-created the colour and pattern, based on the historical sample preserved in our Museum's collection.

In 2018–20, Russian craftsmen re-created the palisander finish for the interior. The wood panels and fireplace cladding were made at the Stavros company in St Petersburg. Fabrics and trimmings for the walls and curtains were re-created at the Rubelli manufactory in Italy and the Re Kon Art company in Poland, thanks to historical photographs and samples preserved in the collections of Tsarskoe Selo and Pavlovsk. The fabric for the upper part of the fireplace was provided by the Alpina company.

Now restoration specialists of the Tsarskoselskaya Amber Workshop are working on pieces of the furniture set for the Palisander Drawing Room."

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Alexandra's letter to Maria, dated August 2, 1903

Source:

Olga Grigor'eva at lastromanovs on VK



The letter:

Aug. 2 1903. Псков
Papa & Mama kiss you very tenderly. —


Above: Alexandra.


Above: Maria. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Alexandra's letter to Nicholas, dated March 9, 1915, and Nicholas's telegram, dated March 10, 1915

Sources:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000011396573&view=1up&seq=113

https://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/march15.html

The letter:

No. 54a
Tsarskoe Selo, March 9-th 1915
My Huzy sweet Angel,
What happiness to know, that the day after to-morrow I shall be holding you tight in my arms again, listening to your dear voice and looking into your beloved eyes. Only for you I regret, that you won't have seen anything. If I could only be decent by the time you return. This night I only got to sleep after 5, felt such, pressure on the heart, and the heart rather much enlarged. Yesterday it kept normal, and I was also from 5-6 on the sofa and 8-11 — Irene and Baby are well — she suffered a good deal, but was brave — she likes her name, and so wished the child to be called by it, funny little thing. Dmitri, Rostislav and Nikita came to Alexei, and the latter dined with us. —

It is cold, but bright sunshine. — I enclose a letter from Masha, (from Austria) which she was asked to write to you, for peace's sake. I never answer her letters, of course, now; then a letter from Ania; — I don't know whether you agree to her writing, but I can't say no, once she asks me, and better like this than through the servants. She sent for Kondratiev yesterday — so foolish to get the servants to talk to in the hospital she already wanted to see them — only to make a fuss it's not quite ladylike, I must honestly say. Now she will be sending for your men, and that will be quite improper; — why can't she then sooner ask, after the poor wounded she knows and with whom, she won't have anything to do! —

Just got your telegram, it came in 15 min; thank God Przmysl taken, congratulate you with all my loving heart — this is good — what joy for our beloved troops! They did have a long time of it, and honestly speaking I am glad for the poor garrison and people who must have almost been dying of hunger. Now we shall have those army corps free to throw over to more weak places. I am too happy for you! —

From Olga good news, likes Lvov (Lemberg), she feels sad Misha is with wife there and she has never seen him for 4 years.

Now goodbye my treasure, I bless and kiss you over and over again — your very own
Sunny.

Nicholas's telegram:

Telegram.
Stavka. 10 March, 1915.
I forgot to thank you for your dear letter; was very excited over the happy news. A colossal number of prisoners was taken there. Lovely sunny weather. Am leaving at 3 o'clock. I kiss you warmly.
Nicky.


Above: Nicholas and Alexandra.

Alix's letter to Toni Becker, dated October 12, 1892

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

Den 12.ten Oct. 92.
Meine liebe Toni,
Tausend Dank für Deinen lieben Brief, den ich gestern erhielt. Da wir erst Morgen abreisen, so soll Dir der messenger noch vorher diese Zeilen bringen. Ich bin eben vom Photographen zurückgekommen, & sitze in grande "toilette", da die Kammerfrauen nicht da sind, & das Kleid hinten zugemacht is. — Das Wetter ist glücklicher Weise sehr schön hier, wenn die See Morgen nur ruhig ist — wir gehen wieder über Ostend, so dass wir um 1 Uhr ungefähr am Freitag in Darmstadt ankommen werden, wenn es Gottes Will ist. —

Der Violinspieler hat wieder in Balmoral gespielt, & ist mit uns hierhergereist, er spielt bei uns heute Abend & soupiert mit — wenn Du ihn nur hören könntest — es ist ein solcher Genuß. —

Gestern habe ich bei Miss Jackson in ihrem kleinen Häuschen Thee gehabt, es war nett & gemüthlich — mein Bruder ist met einem Freund herumgelaufen, heute kommen die Teck's zu uns zum Thee. — Wir sind gestern den lieben langen Tag herumgerast in Läden u. s. w. — One gets ruined here. — Miss Robson (die bei meinen Cousinen, den kleinen Connaught's war) reist mit uns, sie wird die Gouvernante von der kleinen Alice. —

Ich freue mich so auf „home, sweet home” —

& ich hoffe wir sehen uns recht bald.

Es küsst Dich innig
Deine sehr treue Alte

English translation (my own, with original English in italics):

October 12th. 92
My dear Toni,
A thousand thanks for your lovely letter that I received yesterday. Since we do not leave until tomorrow, the messenger should bring you these lines first. I have just come back from the photographer, & I am sitting in the grande "toilette", since the maids are not there, & the dress is closed at the back. — Fortunately, the weather is very nice here, if only the sea is calm in the morning — we are going over Ostend again, so that we will arrive in Darmstadt at around 1 o'clock on Friday, if it is God's will. —

The Violin Player has played again at Balmoral & has traveled here with us, he is playing with us tonight & has dinner — if you could only hear him — it is such a pleasure. —

Yesterday I had tea at Miss Jackson's little house, it was nice and cozy — my brother ran around with a friend, today the Tecks come to us for tea. — Yesterday we raced around in shops all day long and so on — One gets ruined here. — Miss Robson (who was with my cousins, the little Connaughts) travels with us, she shall be the governess to little Alice. —

I am so looking forward to "home, sweet home" —

& I hope to see you soon.

I kiss you deeply
Your very faithful Alte


Above: Alix. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.


Above: Toni Becker.

Alix's letter to Toni Becker, dated July 11, 1892

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

Schwalbach den 11ten Juli/92
Meine liebe Toni, 
Vielen Dank für Deinen letzten sehr willkommenen Brief. Es freut mich, dass Du Deinen Aufenthalt in Michelbach zu geniessen scheinst, & möge er Dir recht gut bekommen. Und wie vergnügt die Kleine sein muss ihre liebe Freundin zu haben. Ich wünschte Du könntest nur nachher nach Mehlem, oder kannst Du es nicht einrichten, dass Du Frl. v. Rath nach ihrem Besuch in Darmstadt, heimbegleitest, & dann ein wenig bei ihr bleiben, aber Carlito wäre wol doch nicht da, — hörst Du nie was er treibt? — Es ist immer so schade wenn man einen Menschen hat gut kennen lernen, & mit ihm viel zusammengewesen ist, & man dann scheidet & sich eine Ewigkeit nicht wiedersieht. —

Ich liege eben auf dem Sopha, nachdem ich den Andern beim Lawn Tennis zugesehen hatte, — es ist Tantalusqual, aber ich kann nicht spielen wegen meinem Bein, aber hoffentlich auf dem Wolfsgarten. Es graut mir so vor dort. Wie anders wird es nun vom vorigen Jahr. — Mein Kind, — I can not get over it, I do miss him too terribly, one minute one laughs, & the next one longs to cry — nearly four months already, & we never were seperated so long before — & now it is to last for ever, — nevermore shall I look on his beloved face or hear his dear voice again, oh, it seems too hard to bear. — But he is happy & at rest now, & I ought not to fret, but I did love him so. There never was a better creature a more adorable Father. — Aber diese trüben Gedanken dürfen Dich nicht stören, Du musst nur Sonnenschein haben, es passt besser zu Dir. —

Es küsst Dich von Herzen
Deine treue Alte

Einen schönen Gruss an die Kleine

English translation (my own; original English in italics):

Schwalbach, July 11th/92
My dear Toni,
Many thanks for your last very welcome letter. I am pleased that you seem to be enjoying your stay in Michelbach, & may it be good for you. And how happy the Little One must be to have her dear Friend. I wish you could only go to Mehlem afterwards, or can't you arrange to accompany Frl. v. Rath home after her visit to Darmstadt & then stay with her for a while, but Carlito wouldn't be there, — you never hear anything; what is he doing? — It's always a shame when you get to know someone well, & have been with them a lot, & then one is separated & they don't see each other for ages. —

I am just lying on the sopha after watching the others play Lawn Tennis — it is torture, but I can't play because of my leg, but hopefully in the Wolfsgarten. I dread it there. How different it will be from last year. — My Child, — I can not get over it, I do miss him too terribly, one minute one laughs, & the next one longs to cry — nearly four months already, & we never were seperated so long before — & now it is to last for ever, — nevermore shall I look on his beloved face or hear his dear voice again, oh, it seems too hard to bear. — But he is happy & at rest now, & I ought not to fret, but I did love him so. There never was a better creature a more adorable Father. —  But these sad thoughts must not disturb you, you must only have sunshine, it suits you better.

I kiss you with all my heart
Your faithful Alte

Greetings to the Little One


Above: Alix.


Above: Toni Becker.

Monday, February 15, 2021

Alix's letter to Toni Becker, dated June 8, 1892

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

Darmstadt, Den 8ten Juni/92
Liebe Toni,
Ich sende Dir meinen innigsten Dank für Deinen lieben Brief & den süssen Engel. Ich werde ihn im Schlafzimmer aufhängen. Ich habe solche Bilder besonders gern, & ich kannte dieses noch nicht. — Wie wunderschön es doch heute wieder ist. —

Dass Ihr in Aschaffenburg übernachten musstet finde ich prachtvoll. — Wir waren vorhin im Herrngarten & auf der Rosenhöhe, fahren jetzt gleich wieder fort, drum muss ich diese abermalige kurze Epistel schliessen.
Deine treue Alte

Kaulbach kommt morgen nach Jugenheim um V's & mein Bild zu machen. Seine ersten fand er schlecht.

With English translation (my own):

Darmstadt, June 8th/92
Dear Toni,
I send you my most heartfelt thanks for your dear letter & the sweet Angel. I shall hang it in the bedroom. I am particularly fond of pictures like this, & I never knew this one. — How beautiful it is today again. —

I think it is wonderful that you had to spend the night in Aschaffenburg. — We were earlier in the Herrngarten & on the Rosenhöhe, are going to continue straight away, so I must close this short epistle again.
Your faithful Alte

Kaulbach is coming to Jugenheim tomorrow to take V's and my picture. He found his first ones bad.


Above: Alix.


Above: Toni Becker.

Alix's letter to Toni Becker, dated June 7, 1892, her first birthday without her father...

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

Jugenheim den 7ten Juni
1892
Meine gute liebe Toni,
Von Herzen danke ich Dir für Deinen lieben Brief von Mehlem. Es war lieb, dass Du meiner an meinem Geburtstag gedachtest. — Es war ein gar harter Tag. Obwohl alle Verwandten kamen, & ich viele schöne Geschenke erhielt, so freue ich mich doch wie der Tag vorüber war, denn ich vermisste meinen geliebten Papa zu furchtbar. Das erstemal, dass ich meinen Geburtstag ohne ihn feiern musste, — Oh, Kind, es ist zu furchtbar, ihn nicht mehr zu haben, täglich vermisst man ihn mehr & mehr. —

Wie gut, dass das Wetter endlich wieder einmal schön ist, denn obwohl man den Regen sehr herbeigewünscht hatte, so hätte man doch gerne Sonnenschein zu Pfingsten gehabt. Wir fahren heute zum Luncheon nach Schönberg & von dort auf den Hohenstein. Unternehmt Ihr auch einen Ausflug? Ich hoffe die Tage in Michelbach waren nett, ich habe viel an Dich gedacht. — Grüsse die Kleine von mir & danke für den Glückwunsch. — Ich kann aber Dir nichts mehr heute schreiben, denn ich habe noch andere Briefe zu beantworten ehe wir fortgehen.
Es küsst Dich herzlich
Deine Alte

With English translation (my own):

Jugenheim, June 7th
1892
My good, dear Toni,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your dear letter from Mehlem. It was nice that you thought of me on my Birthday. — It was a very hard day. Although all the relations came and I received many beautiful gifts, I was still happy when the day was over, as I missed my beloved Papa too terribly. The first time that I had to celebrate my birthday without him, — Oh, Child, it is too terrible not to have him anymore, every day one misses him more & more. —

How good that the weather is finally nice again, because although one had wished for the rain very much, one would have liked to have sunshine on Whitsunday. Today we drive to the Luncheon in Schönberg & from there to the Hohenstein. Do you also go for an outing? I hope the days in Michelbach were nice, I thought of you so much. — Greet the Little One for me & thanks for the congratulations. — But I can't write anything to you today, as I have other letters to answer before we leave.
A hearty kiss.
Your Alte


Above: Alix. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.


Above: Toni Becker.

Alix's letter to Toni Becker, dated April 17, 1892, her first Easter after her father's death...

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

Ostersonntag Palais Edinburgh. Coburg
April 17ter 1892
Meine liebe Toni,
Ich muss Dir heute rasch einige Zeilen mit meinen innigsten Wünschen zum Osterfest schicken. Der Herr segne Dich, mein geliebtes Kind. Du musst nicht glauben, dass ich nicht Deiner gedacht, aber ich konnte Dir wirklich unmöglich früher schreiben. — Deine Blumen & Briefe haben mich tief gerührt & ich danke Dir nun herzlich für dieselbe. Die Blumen habe ich auf die Rosenhöh gebracht. — My heart is breaking, I can scarcely write, as they are playing the Cavalleria Rusticana in the street, just what beloved Papa liked so, & what we always used to see together. Everything reminds me of him. Oh, it is all too awful, I can scarcely believe it. I can’t write more, this music is too much for me, & yesterday I had such an awful headache & to-day makes me miss him more than ever.
A kiss Ys old Alte    I must see you when we come back. —

The letter with translation from German (original English in italics):

Easter Sunday, Palais Edinburgh. Coburg.
April 17th, 1892.
My darling Toni,
Today I must quickly send you a few lines with my heartfelt wishes for Easter. The Lord bless you, my beloved Child. You must not believe that I did not think of you, but I couldn't possibly have written to you sooner. — Your Flowers and Letters touched me deeply & I now thank you warmly for them. I brought the Flowers to the Rosenhöhe. — My heart is breaking, I can scarcely write, as they are playing the Cavalleria Rusticana in the street, just what beloved Papa liked so, & what we always used to see together. Everything reminds me of him. Oh, it is all too awful, I can scarcely believe it. I can’t write more, this music is too much for me, & yesterday I had such an awful headache & to-day makes me miss him more than ever.
A kiss Ys old Alte    I must see you when we come back. —


Above: Alix in mourning for her father, Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse. His death was a severe blow to her, as she had previously lost her mother Alice and younger sister May as a young child, and the loss of her father retraumatised her.


Above: Alix with her father in 1889.


Above: Toni Becker.

Alix's letter to Toni Becker with mention of the attack on Nicholas during his visit to Otsu in Japan, dated May 19, 1891

Source:

Briefe der Zarin Alexandra von Russland an ihre Jugendfreundin Toni Becker-Bracht (2009), edited by Lotte Hoffmann-Kuhnt

The letter:

Darmstadt May 19./
Darling Child,
A thousand tender thanks for your dear letter, & the little flowers, a comfort before leaving, wh. is very hard to me. To leave my home — so many I love makes me always miserable, as one never knows if one may return. God grant that we may, & find nothing changed. That what you read in the papers about N, of course I knew, Ella telegraphed twice. I assure you, I did not know what to do with myself, & the exersion was strong preventing anyone to see my feelings & eyes, none noticed anything. With practice one can often hide one's feelings. — Wir gehen um 5. Victoria kommt um 3 an sehe ich Dich in der Strasse? Oh, Kind, schreibe oft, das wird mein Trost in der Ferne sein. Welch ein Wind gestern Abend, wenn wir den nur nicht morgen haben. Um 12 herum morgen sind wir, wenn alles gut geht in London wo wir bis Freitag Abend Buckinghampalace bleiben. Ich habe kaum Zeit mehr zu schreiben denn es wird spät, & ich habe noch so furchtbar viel zu thun. Bete für mich, — Child, I am in a state that I do not know how to keep quiet, & what to do, so wretched I feel, but the others may only see me laugh. I am eben unwohl schön für die Reise. —

Denke an mich, Behalte mich lieb. Goodby, Goodby & God bless you, my own little dear,
Deine in Ewigkeit très treue Alte

Deine kleinen Blümchen gehen mit, letzter Blumengruß aus der Heimath für jetzt. —

The letter with the translated German (original English in italics):

Darmstadt May 19./
Darling Child,
A thousand tender thanks for your dear letter, & the little flowers, a comfort before leaving, wh. is very hard to me. To leave my home — so many I love makes me always miserable, as one never knows if one may return. God grant that we may, & find nothing changed. That what you read in the papers about N, of course I knew, Ella telegraphed twice. I assure you, I did not know what to do with myself, & the exersion was strong preventing anyone to see my feelings & eyes, none noticed anything. With practice one can often hide one's feelings. — We leave at 5. Victoria arrives at 3; do I see you in the street? Oh, Child, do write often, that will be my comfort in the distance. What a wind last night, if only we won't have it tomorrow. At 12 o'clock tomorrow we will be in London, if all goes well, where we will stay at Buckingham Palace until Friday evening. I hardly have any more time to write as it is getting late, and I still have so much to do. Pray for me, — Child, I am in a state that I do not know how to keep quiet, & what to do, so wretched I feel, but the others may only see me laugh. I am simply unwell for the trip. -

Think of me, Remember me dearly. Goodby, Goodby & God bless you, my own little dear,
Your very faithful Alte forever

Your little Flowers will go with you, last flower greeting from home for now. —


Above: Alix with her friend and lady-in-waiting Gretchen von Fabrice. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.


Above: Toni Becker.


Above: Nicholas going for a rickshaw ride in Japan.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Sir John Lavery's memory and description of Alix

Source:

The Life of a Painter, Sir John Lavery, 1940


The memory:

Of all the royalties that I have painted the one that stands out is the Princess Alix of Hesse, late Empress of Russia, because of her great beauty. I had been given a large reception room in the Schloss for a studio. The first morning, I well remember, I woke with a blinding headache, a prevalent trouble of mine, usually meaning a day in bed. It was the morning that the Princess was to sit, and I forced myself to go to the studio where a huge coal fire at either end was banked up. There were large hairy rugs in front. It was most fortunate that I arrived early, I was no sooner there than one fireplace was in flames and then the other. I was alone, there was no means of calling servants, so I rushed about, finally getting help — the whole staff with all sorts of fire extinguishers. It was astonishing how quickly everything was put in order; half an hour afterwards, when the Princess came in, no one would have known that flames and volumes of smoke had filled the room so recently. Even the air had been reconditioned. The Grand Duke was so pleased with the little study I painted that he asked me to come back to Darmstadt to paint a life-sized portrait of his daughter before she became Czarina. I have often regretted that I did not do it. She hypnotized me by the strange sadness of her eyes, like one on the verge of insanity yet sane enough to realize it. I shall always remember the look almost of terror that came and went as I was painting her.


Above: The portrait of Alix.


Above: Sir John Lavery.

Letter to Alexandra from Alexei, dated August 8, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=243573740720347&id=108838347527221

The letter:

Stavka 8 August 1916
My dear, sweet, darling, beloved Mama.
It has been raining since morning. I have just had a mud bath. Yesterday we went boating on the Dnepr. It was very hot. Papa and the cadets went for a swim! In the evening we stuffed our faces in our little garden. The boys thank you and Tatiana very much for your greetings and kisses. I am waiting for Zhilik to come. I'll finish off now and continue in my next letter. May God protect you and the sisters +!
Kisses
Alexei


Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.


Above: Alexei on the bank of the Dnepr River.

Letter to Alexandra from Alexei, dated May 21, 1916

Source:

Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=244751180602603&id=108838347527221

The letter:

Stavka 21 May 1916
My dear Mama,
I played in the woods while Papa went for a walk. He went 8 versts. I'm running late for my walk, which is why I am writing badly. Papa is at Headquarters now. We went on a boat today. Yesterday, while Papa was still sleeping, I got into his bed with a cushion and tickled him and tormented him. Please greet P. V. P. and Siniy, and the others. May God protect you +
Lovingly yours,
Alexei


Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.


Above: Alexei. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.

Saturday, February 6, 2021

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated July 24/August 5, 1889

Source:

The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse, 1878-1916, edited by Petra H. Kleinpenning, 2010

The letter:

Darling Ernie,
I am writing to tell you now, what Grandmamma has let us know. She leaves Osborne on the 22nd for Wales, and arrives at Balmoral on the 28th. — So you better write immediately, & settle with her, what you intend doing. — I leave probably on the 11th, & Irène on the 9th, after the Christening at the Heiligenberg. —

Yesterday we drove at a quarter past nine to Darmstadt, (all of us) where Irène rested an hour, I worked & wrote & the ladies went to the Schlosskirche. Baby of course went with us. Then we drove with other horses & carriages through the park to Wolfsgarten. Fr. v. Seckendorff was enchanted with the place, & Wilhelmine showed her everything. Uncle Henry & Abby came for luncheon, & afterwards the latter, Gretchen & I played billiards. Indigo looks quite nice & fat, & ran about merrily in the courtyard, Ba[m]bino also. — Papa had already gone there on Saturday for shooting, & when we returned here by rail, he drove himself to Dieburg. —

The day before yesterday, there was a fire here in the village, & our baker's Scheune was burnt down, & one or two pigs.

Tebe sends you both very many messages.

Now Addio, with a long & tender embrace, Ever your loving Alix.


Above: Alix.


Above: Ernst.

Note: Scheune = barn.

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated July 9/21, 1889

Source:

The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse, 1878-1916, edited by Petra H. Kleinpenning, 2010

The letter:

My darling Ernie,
I hope you are not angry with me, for not having written for such a long time, its really a shame of me. —

You will be astonished, that I write on paper with Alexander as Monogramm, but it is some paper of uncles, wh. the others gave me to use.

Charlotte sent me two mignon photos of herself. I think the one is for you. Which would you like — the one reading, or the one standing? When you have settled which, I shall send it you. —

I am going to Osborne on the 9th or 10th, & from there with Grdmama to Wales. There would be no room for you to go with her there, but those days you could see some other places. Will you travel with me to England, or are you going to a seabath?

I heard from Tebe just before, & she sends you both her love. — She returns to Darmstadt on Tuesday. Her mother has sold there house to H. v. Riedesel, & the new one, in wh. they will live, is in the Anna Strasse, where Grunau lived, I think she said. —

We went to Church this morning, & I am in a great heat. — Gretchen has gone for the day & night to Werner's at Auerbach. We went there the other day & I had to think so much of the two.

Victoria & the Baby are getting on very well. The Christening is to be, when Papa returns from England, after the Wedding, if V: is strong enough then. — Louise, Alexandra, Irène, Marie, I think they intend calling her. She is awfully tiny, rather like Victoria, only very dark. Alice is enchanted with her. The Baby here, has been vaxinated. — Papa ran about with the 2 goats & both sheep yesterday in the heat. — I shall have to let my squirrel run in a day or two, as he smells alas, too dreadfully. —

Excuse this untidy writing. Ever yr loving Alix.

[P. S.] 1000 tender kisses. —


Above: Alix.


Above: Ernst.

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated June 27/July 9, 1889

Source:

The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse, 1878-1916, edited by Petra H. Kleinpenning, 2010

The letter:

Darling Ernie,
I hasten to send you a few lines before dressing for luncheon, to wh. two ladies are coming.

I have just had my last singing lesson from H. Steinbach, wh. is a great pity, as he gives such good and pleasant ones. Now I must try Fr. Knispel. —

I must not forget to ask Louie for the little Picture we bought at Kiel, to give Irène on the 11th. —

This morning we & Baby were photographed. —

Tebe sends you both again very many messages. — Excuse this mad writing but I am in tremendous heat & haste. —

The concerts on Saturday & yesterday were charming, but very long. — Have you heard of Gleichen's engagement to Paulinchen v. Schenk & of the Gugels, to? —

When are you coming?

To-morrow we leave here, stay over night at Darmstadt, & in the afternoon to Seeheim. Went with Papa to the Dom this morning. — With tender embraces, Ever yr loving Alix.


Above: Alix.


Above: Ernst.

Alix's letter to Ernst, dated June 22/July 4, 1889

Source:

The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse, 1878-1916, edited by Petra H. Kleinpenning, 2010

The letter:

Darling Ernie,
I am going to ask Albert Grancy to take you these lines, so as to show you, that it is not lazyness of my part, not writing, but that I really have very little time. When my lessons are over, I sit with Irène in the garden, & play the Festungsspiel, or carry Baby about. He has grown so much, & has got such a nice plump & cheery fellow, — really he is a great Duck! —

I have heard already twice from Tebe, since she is at Michelbach, where she is enjoying her stay. She sends you both many messages, & wants you to tell me everything about Pebe, & how he likes being where he is, so that I might then relate it to her. —

I suppose you were also as astonished as we were, at Louise's betrothal. I hear that they are exceedingly happy, & that the Wedding is going to be towards the end of this month. Very quick & hasty it seems. —

On the 6th is Toria of Wales Birthday, & Grf: Rantzaus. —

We have just come in from the garden, where it was very warm, & where we were stung by numerous gnats. No delight, I can assure you. — I am writing to you with a glass pen, wh. Gretchen bought for me this morning, when we were at Wiesbaden. It writes quite nicely. The shape is so: [little drawing of pen]. — This evening we are going to a Circus, wh. is here for a few days — such a pitty Irène cannot go with us. — I heard from Ella just before, — she mentions that: U. Sache, A. Minny, Xenia & Micha, A. Marie, Queen O. of Greece, with her Nicky & Minny have gone for a trip again to Finland. — By this time Ella & Serge are at Ilinskoe.
With a 1000 tender embraces, I am, Sweet old Dear, yr ever loving Alix.

[P.S.] I hope the heat is not too great, & that the gnats & Kinderwagen are not too troublesome. I hope you will enjoy seeing Dresden, & that your visite to the King & Queen will be pleasant. — Uncle Fr.[ancis] Teck comes to-morrow fr. Jugenheim, where he has been for two days. — Do not forget Tebe's messages. —


Above: Alix.


Above: Ernst.

Note: Kinderwagen = pram.