Events and Exhibitions | Nicholas II

Livadia hosts new exhibition dedicated to the Romanovs in Crimea

Posted on March 3, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 24th February 2024, the exhibition There was life in the Crimea…, opened in the Exhibition Hall of Livadia Palace, situated near Yalta on the southern coast of Crimea. The exhibit is part of The Romanovs in Crimea, which is on permanent display on the second floor of the palace.

The exhibition showcases items from the collection of Livadia Palace Museum, and explores the pastimes and private lives of Emperor Nicholas II and his family, during their stays at Livadia during the first decade of the 20th century.

The Tsar and his family were very fond of their southern coastal estate, especially during the warm summer months. It was only on one occasion, that the Imperial Family were forced to extend their stay. During their visit to Crimea in 1900, the Sovereign fell ill with typhoid, forcing the Imperial Family to extend their stay until Christmas. This period is documented in the exhibition with copies of watercolours from the album “Livadia. 1900-1901” by the court painter Mihály Zichy (1827-1906). The watercolours, in the form of collages, depict episodes of the life of the Imperial Family during their stay in Crimea.

Among them are collages depicting the Imperial Family on the Imperial Yacht “Shtandart“; the meeting of Nicholas II with his his cousin Prince George of Greece; the reception of the Turkish envoy; the Tsar during his illness in 1900; the reception of deputies of the Taurida province; the Tsar’s meeting with the Knights of St. George; equestrian riding; playing board games, etc.

It is interesting to note, that in 2015, a number of these watercolours were reproduced in a handsome Russian language album, “Царское имение Ливадия в акварелях и фотодокументах [The Tsar’s Livadia Estate in Watercolors and Photographic Documents] by Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Tikhonova.

Also on display at the exhibition, are sheet music of classical works and phonograph records, which were fashionable at the beginning of the 20th century. The Tsar and his family often listened to these records in the palace’s Music Room. On other occasions, the Empress and her daughters would play pieces from the sheet music on the piano.

The last time that Nicholas II and his family visited the old wooden palaces at Livadia, was in the autumn of 1909. The exhibition features an interecting collection of photographs of this visit.

The old wooden Grand Palace was demolished in 1910, to make way for a new Italian Neo-Renaissance style stone palace, which would serve as the residence of Nicholas II and his family during their visits to Crimea. The Imperial family visited their new white palace in the fall of 1911 and 1913 and in the spring of 1912 and 1914.

Macedonian schoolchildren write about Nicholas II and his family

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 23rd February 2024, the Siniša Stoilov Secondary School, in tje town of Zrnovci – situated in the eastern part of North Macedonia – was the venue for a photo-exhibition dedicated to Russia’s last Tsar and his family.

The exhibition named Towards the Russian Tsar. The Romanovs and the Tsar’s Service, presented historical photographs of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. In addition to the photo-exhibition, the organizers held a writing competition for students to participate.

Students of different ages composed poems about the Imperial Family and read them at the opening of the exhibition, while others presented their drawings and watercolours. All participants of the competitions were awarded with certificates of honour.

The photos were provided by the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow and are part of a nationwide project that has been successfully implemented in many cities across Russia and abroad.

*As I have noted in previous posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in 21st century Russia – PG

Alexander Palace hosts conference dedicated to the creation of the IRMHS

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: the IRMHS conference was held in the
Large Library Hall of the Alexander Palace

On Tuesday, 27th February 2024, the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo hosted a conference dedicated to the history of the creation of the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society (IRMHS). The event was a joint effort between the local branch of the IRMHS of the Leningrad region, the Directorate of the IRMHS in Moscow, and the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum.

The organizers chose the Alexander Palace deliberately, since it was here at the beginning of the 20th century that a meeting was held on the creation of the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society took place. The conference was held in the Large Library Hall of the palace.

Vladimir Kazakov, Executive Director of the Regional Branch of the Russian Military Historical Society in the Leningrad Region, read out a welcome address from Vitaly Martynyuk, Executive Director of the Russian Military Historical Society:

– It is symbolic that the conference is being held in such a historic place – in the Alexander Palace, where in 1907 Emperor Nicholas II read the Journal of the Council of the Russian Military History Society and wrote on it: “Deeply sympathizing with the goals of the Society, I willingly accept the title of its Honorary Chairman and bestow on it the title of Imperial.” The activities of the organization fully corresponded to such a high title,” Vitaly Martynyuk emphasized.

He recalled that the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society made a significant contribution to the anniversary celebrations dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lesnaya (1708) and the victory in the Battle of Poltava (1709), as well as the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812. With the participation of IRMHS, monuments to Alexander Suvorov in Izmail and Rymnik, Mikhail Skobelev were installed in Moscow, Peter the Great in Kexholm, and Mikhail Kutuzov in the Crimea were created.

One of the key events of the conference, was the presentation of two new paintings by Andrei Romasyukov, a Russian military artist, an expert in Russian military history of the 19th and 20th centuries were presented in the Working and New Studies of Emperor Nicholas II, located in the eastern wing of the Alexander Palace.

The first painting depicting Emperor Nicholas II granting his consent to the Russian Military Historical Society on 20th October 1907, was unveiled in the Tsar’s Working Study. The second painting depicting the Emperor hosting a reception of the IRVIO Deputation on 22nd November 1907, was unveiled in the Tsar’s New Study.

PHOTOS: Nicholas II in the Tsar’s Working Study by Andrei Romasyukov

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PHOTOS: Nicholas II in the Tsar’s New Study by Andrei Romasyukov

The conference was attended by researchers from the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum, the A.V. Suvorov Museum, the Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps, and the Russian National Library. Historians from the St. Petersburg, Leningrad and Vologda regions presented papers based on their research on the activities of the Imperial Russian Military Historical Society. In addition, archival documents dating from the early 20th century, relating to the creation of the Russian Military Historical Society were presented.

Participants of the conference were given a tour of the former private apartments of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, including the State Halls of the Alexander Palace, which were recreated between Autumn 2015 and August 2021.

Photo-exhibit dedicated to the family of Nicholas II opens in Sayansk

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 26th January 2024, a photo-exhibition The Tsar’s Family. Love and Mercy. opened in the Siberian city of Sayansk. The exhibition features photographs reflecting the life and work of the last Russian Emperor and his family. The photos are provided by the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow and are part of a nationwide project that has been successfully implemented in many cities across Russia and abroad.

Father Volodymyr Danilko, head of the diocesan department of religious education, delivered an opening speech at the opening of the exhibit. Art historian Svetlana Panina spoke about Christian virtues and relationships within the family of Nicholas II.

The exhibition runs until 2nd March 2024, at the Art Gallery in Sayansk.

The importance of these photo-exhibitions

On 30th January 2024, I read a particularly disturbing article in one of the online Russian media outlets, which told about two schoolchildren fighting over Nicholas II. One boy spoke negatively about the Tsar, referring to him as “a weak ruler” and “Nicholas the Bloody”, while the second boy defended the Tsar. An argyment ensued, followed by a physical altercation, leaving one boy with a broken nose. The fight took place in the school yard of the Petrovskaya School, one of the top 30 private educational institutions in Moscow.

It is very sad that school children are still being taught the same negative Bolshevik myths and lies, which have endured for more than a century, by either their parents or educators, who still embrace the Bolshevik assessment of Russia’s much slandered Tsar. This is one reason WHY, these photo-exhibitions are so important in 21st century Russia. They provide children with a more honest and truthful assessment of the life and reign of Nicholas II.

*As I have noted in previous posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in 21st century Russia – PG

Livadia Palace hosts new exhibit dedicated to the family of Nicholas II

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 14th January 2024, with the blessing of His Eminence Tikhon, Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea, the photo exhibition The Tsar’s Family. Love and Mercy, opened at the Livadia Palace in Crimea.

The exhibition presents more than 100 vintage photographs that tell about the close relationship within the family of the last Russian emperor Nicholas II. The photographs reflect many aspects of the life of the Tsar’s family during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the upbringing of the children, and the warm and loving relationship, which they shared with both their parents and each other.

In addition, the photo exhibition also shows the Tsar’s Family’s dedication to acts of charity and their service to the Fatherland, and a wonderful example of Russian family traditions and unshakable spiritual values.

The rector of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Archpriest Dimitry Gotskalyuk, in his welcoming speech noted the special symbolic and cultural significance of the photo project for Crimea. For many decades, the inhabitants of the blessed land of Taurida have revered the Holy Royal Martyrs as the patron saints of the family. The life of the Imperial Family is not only an example of service to people and the Fatherland, but also an example of Russian family traditions and unshakable spiritual values.

The photo exhibition is a joint project of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross [the Imperial family’s church adjacent to the Livadia Palace], and the Livadia Palace State Museum, with the support of the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.

The photo project The Tsar’s Family: Love and Mercy was created in 2016 by the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow. The travelling exhibition has already been presented in Serbia, Germany, Italy, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Czech Republic. The exhibition has also been presented in many cities of Russia: Moscow, Voronezh, Kursk, Ryazan, Penza, Krasnodar, Belgorod, Velikiye Luki, etc.

The exhibition runs until 19th May 2024, in the Music Salon of the Livadia Palace

*As I have noted in previous posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in 21st century Russia – PG

Outdoor photo-exhibit dedicated to the family of Nicholas II opens in Penza

Posted on January 17, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 20th December 2023, an outdoor photo-exhibition dedicated to Emperor Nicholas II and his family opened near the Spassky Cathedral in Penza. Penza is the second Russian city after Moscow, where these unique photographs are presented to the general public in an outdoor setting.

The travelling exhibition The Tsar’s Family: Love and Mercy was previously held near the Sretensky Monastery in central Moscow from 16th October 2023 to 16th November 2023.

The Penza exhibit opened in a tree-lined alley located between the Spassky Cathedral and the Penza Diocesan Administration Building. Most of the photographs presented at the exhibition are dedicated to the participation of the Imperial Family II in matters of charity and service to others and the Fatherland.

Of particular note are selected photographs dedicated to the service of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and the Grand Duchesses as nurses in infirmaries and hospitals during the First World War.

The Tsar’s Family: Love and Mercy photo project was created in 2016 by the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow. The creator of the project, a resident of the Sretensky Monastery, Hieromonk Ignaty (Shestakov), gave lectures on the Tsar and his family at two universities: Penza State University and the Penza Artillery Engineering Institute.

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“The old buildings and streets of Penza remember the visit of Emperor Nicholas II to the city on 28th June 1904. During his visit, the Tsar attended a review of the troops going to the Russo-Japanese War, after which he attended a Divine Liturgy in the Spassky Cathedral.

In memory of Emperor Nicholas II’s visit to Penza, a memorial plaque was installed on one of the columns of the Spassky Cathedral, which was considered lost after the destruction of the cathedral by the Soviets in 1934.

In the late 1990s, this artifact was found by the famous Penza collector Igor Sergeevich Shishkin, who kept it all these years until June 2022, on the day of the consecration of the revived Spassky Cathedral by Patriarch Kirill. On this day, Igor Sergeevich handed over a memorial plaque to the Penza diocese.

There are plans to have the memorial plaque reinstalled to its original place in the Spassky Cathedral, next to the new icon of Nicholas II, for which a case is now being made.

A painting dedicated to this event was painted in the 1990s by Penza artist Denis Santalov. The painting depicts Nicholas II standing before the priest, who offers the Tsar an icon, which he in turn would kiss and make the sign of the cross.

Merry Christmas to my Orthodox readers

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

January 7

Today – 7th January – Orthodox Christians around the world
celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Merry Christmas to my Orthodox friends!

Счастливого Рождества моим православным друзьям!

Срећан Божић мојим православним пријатељима!

Καλά Χριστούγεννα στους Ορθόδοξους φίλους μου!

PAUL GILBERT
7 January 2020

Unique icons belonging to the imperial family on display in Moscow for the first time

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Paul Gilbert

On 21st December 2023, a unique exhibit featuring four folding icons presented to members of the Family of Emperor Nicholas II, went on display at the Andrei Rublev Museum in Moscow.

According to Zhanna Belik, curator of the exhibition, “the icons, all of which are now in private collections, are being shown for the first time at the exhibition”.

“Each of the four folding icons is unique in its own way. They were personal gifts to members of the Imperial Family from organizations and donors from different walks of life. Gifts were given to the Imperial Family on special occasions throughout the year. For instance, on the occasion of the birth of children, their coming of age, the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, birthdays and namedays, etc.. To do this, it was necessary to submit a petition in advance, which was considered personally by the person to whom the gift was addressed,” Belik said.

CLICK on each IMAGE below to enlarge

According to Belik, the birth of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich in 1904 is associated with the folding icon gifted to Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Fedorovna, by the abbot and brethren of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra [in the town of Sergiyev Posad, near Moscow]. The artists and jewelers who created it were outstanding craftsmen of their time.

“The exhibition also presents a folding icon with images of saints St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Prince Alexander Nevsky and Mary Magdalene. The icon was presented to Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich [future Emperor Nicholas II] on his 18th birthday, by the guard of the Moscow Philistine Society. The folding icon was made in the workshop of Ivan Khlebnikov, a Supplier to the Imperial Court,” the curator said.

CLICK on each IMAGE below to enlarge

The curator noted that each of the four folding icons have the icon writer’s name on the back of each icon, the frames were made by jewelers – Suppliers of the Imperial Court. “At this time, jewelry art reached its apogee in Russian art, the work of jewelers of the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century are world-class works,” Belik said.

The exhibition also features a sewn icon from the collection of the Andrei Rublev Museum, also created on the occasion of the birth of the long-awaited heir, and presented to Nicholas and Alexandra.

The exhibition runs from 21st December 2023 to 11th February 2024.

“Becoming a Romanov” exhibition opens in Moscow

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Paul Gilbert

On 9th December 2023, a new exhibition “Becoming a Romanov” opened in the Grand Palace at Tsaritsyno State Museum, near Moscow. The exhibit explores the upbringing and education of grand dukes and grand duchesses of the Russian Imperial Family.

The exposition includes more than 500 exhibits, including a globe owned by Emperor Paul I, notebooks of Alexander I, a report card of Alexander III, as well as diaries, letters, contour maps, sketchbooks, board games, tin soldiers, toy cannons and a 17th century silver rattle, which belonged to Peter the Great.

The Tsarskoye Selo State Museum presented more than 50 items for the exhibition, including children’s single-seater sleighs, the Guignol Theater, which was presented by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna to her grandson Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, a Kodak camera that belonged to the tutor of Emperor Nicholas II’s children, Pierre Gilliard, a baptismal set of Tsesarevich Alexei, portraits and uniforms of Grand Dukes, pieces of furniture, clocks, books and toys.

PHOTO: diary (1882) of Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich – future Tsar Nicholas II

PHOTO: regiment uniforms belonging to Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich

PHOTO: Pierre Gilliard’s Eastman Kodak Bulls Eye camera

PHOTO: the Guignol Theater, presented by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna to her grandson Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich

Portrait of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich in the Classroom at Gatchina. Artist Kirill Vikentievich Lemokh (1841-1910). 1890s

The exhibition is a joint project of the Tsaritsyno State Museum, the State Archives of Russian Documents and materials from the collections of the State Historical Museum (Moscow), the Moscow Kremlin Museums, the State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg), the State Museum of Russian History, the Russian State Library (St. Petersburg), the A.S. Pushkin State Museum (Moscow), the Scientific Research Museum at the Russian Academy of Arts, the A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ostankino Museum-Reserve, Kuskovo, Tsarskoye Selo State Museum, Pavlovsk State Museum and the Gatchina State Museum.The exhibition runs until 7th April 2024.

Photo Exhibition in St Petersburg Marks 150th Anniversary of Birth of Emperor Nicholas II

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Paul Gilbert

NOTE: this article was originally posted on 6th July 2018, it has
Been updated with the video below on 6th December 2023 – PG

CLICK on the IMAGE above to watch the grand opening of the photo-exhibition.
Language: Russian. Duration: 2 minutes, 27 seconds

On 6th July 2018 a new exhibition Emperor Nicholas II. To the 150th Anniversary of his Birth, opened in the ROSPHOTO Museum and Exhibition Center in St. Petersburg.

The photo-exhibition is a joint project between the Russian State Archive of Cinema and Photo Documents, the State Archive of the Russian Federation (Moscow), the Russian State Archive of the Navy (St. Petersburg), and the Central State Archive of Film and Photo Documents (St. Petersburg).

The exposition presents 150 photographs and 30 minutes of vintage newsreels related to the life and public activities of Nicholas II. The exhibition ran from 6 July to 9 September 2018

The Imperial Family were photographed by the best photographers of the Russian Empire. In addition, the Romanovs were photographed by the best foreign photographed when they travelled abroad. The exhibition presents family photos of the emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II, taken by outstanding Russian and foreign photographers of the day.

The greatest number of photographs which have been preserved to this day were taken by the co-owner of the photographic studio “K.E. von Gan and Co., the famous Russian photographer AK. Yagelsky, who was appointed “photographer of His Imperial Majesty.” He photographed Nicholas II not only at court, but also in his day-to-day life, on trips around the country, and during diplomatic visits. The exhibition features numerous other photographs of the K.E. Von Gan and Co. Studio marking the state activities and private life of the last Russian emperor.

The project further presents photographic images taken by the famous photographer K.K. Bulla. In 1904, he received permission to photograph views of the capital and important celebrations. Bulla received certificate of permission from the General Staff of the War Department, “to make photographic surveys on maneuvers and exercises of the Guard troops and the St. Petersburg Military District”, as well as a special certificate from the Main Naval Staff permitting photography “during maneuvers, reviews, exercises, and all events relating to naval life.” The exhibition includes K.K. Bullas photos from various jubilee celebrations, military reviews, launching of the ships of the Russian Navy, all of which were attended by Nicholas II.

A separate part of the exhibition features photographs taken by Nicholas II himself and his family members. The Emperor, along with Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, their five children, were all passionate amateur photographers. From 1896, when Nicholas II had his first camera, he hardly ever parted with it. Every year the emperor personally prepared family photo albums, placing and identifying each of them. The photos taken by the emperor and his family are sincere and warm; they were not intended for the general public, and therefore imbued with warm human feelings and true love that reigned in the family of the last Russian emperor.

The exhibition Emperor Nicholas II. To the 150th Anniversary of his Birth, ran from 6th July until 9th September 2018, at the ROSPHOTO Museum and Exhibition Center, which is situated at Bolshaya Morskaya Ulitsa 35, near St. Issac’s Cathedral.