On 25th April 2026, an exhibition dedicated to the family physician of Nicholas II, Dr. Eugene Botkin opened at the Museum of Emperor Nicholas II in Moscow. The exhibition By Faith, Loyalty, Work runs until 15th May 2026.

This unique exhibition showcases personal items belonging to Dr. Evgeny (Eugene) Sergeievich Botkin (1865-1918), which which were purchased at auction[1] by collector Alexander Voronov and returned to Russia. “The items will be exhibited for the first time,” said Voronov

“Several items that belonged to the Botkin family, I purchased in Paris at an auction last year. In 1919, when Botkin’s children Tatyana and Gleb fled Russia all they could take with them were a few icons and photographs gifted to them by the Empress. In particular, is an icon depicting John of Tobolsk, dated 1918 with the letter “A”, such an autograph was put by the Empress,” added Voronov. “The second icon in a silver frame is “The Saviour Not Made by Hands”, its story is described in the book[2] of Botkin’s daughter, published in 1921. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna gave the icon to Botkin, who in turn gave it to her daughter Grand Duchess Tatiana, when she was very ill, so that he could bless her with it, ” said Voronov.

Voronov said that the icon of the “Saviour Not Made by Hands” was used at the baptism of Botkin’s great-grandson Jean Smulwood, who put the family heirlooms up for auction in Paris, in the hope that someone from Russia would buy them. According to the collector, the exhibition will also feature a number of the Botkins’ personal belongings, including the author’s copy of the book by Tatyana Botkina, photographs, one of which was autographed by Nicholas II’s daughters Olga and Tatiana, and an icon of the daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich.

The family physician of Nicholas II and his family, Evgeny Botkin, followed the Imperial Family into exile, first to Tobolsk, and then to Ekaterinburg. The Bolsheviks offered him the option to leave the Tsar, but the doctor remained faithful to him. Botkin and three other retainers were all murdered along with the Imperial Family in the Ipatiev house on the night of 16/17 July 1918.

In 2016, the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Nicholas II’s doctor, and a decision was made on the church-wide glorification of the passion-bearer Righteous Evgeny (Eugene) Sergeievich Botkin (1865-1918).

The exhibition program includes a series of events – lectures, excursions, etc. The organizers of the exhibition are the Foundation of Emperor Nicholas II and the Russian collector of Russian history Alexander Voronov.

The exhibition By Faith, Loyalty, Work runs until 15th May 2026, the Museum of Emperor Nicholas II in Moscow. Admission to the exhibition is FREE. Donations to the Emperor Nicholas II Foundation for the maintenance of the museum are welcome.

NOTES

[1]  View the catalogue from the Auction: Tatiana Botkin Collection – held in Paris on 15 May 2025.

[2] Воспоминания о царской семье [Memories of the Tsar’s Family]. 84 pages. Russian language only.

© Paul Gilbert. 26 April 2026