A full-length study of the dress worn by the Tsesarevna for the marriage of the Grand Duchess Maria to Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, 23 January 1874. One of several studies for the painting of the marriage in the Imperial Chapel in the Winter Palace, St Petersburg; RCIN 404476. See also RCIN 926235, 926237.

Lady Augusta Stanley describes how both the Tsesarevich’s wife, Maria Feodorovna, and her sister, the Princess of Wales, ‘blazed with diamonds’, and that the Tsesarevna’s ensemble was ‘a gown of gold-embroidered satin and train of sky-blue velvet emblazoned with imperial insigniae [sic]’. Chevalier represents the embroidery of the white satin of the dress and the bright blue silk velvet of the overdress with gold paint in star and ribbon motifs, while the touches of white down the central gold brocade seam of the dress indicate where diamonds were sewn on to fasten the gown and hold the ermine-lined sleeves together. The jewels are only faintly sketched, but are recognisable as Maria Feodorovna’s sapphire parure including the so-called Wave Tiara, which has been attached to the gold fabric kokoshnik. Dated and inscribed in pencil: Saraphan worn by H.I.H the Cesarewna on the 23/1/74; with other notes.

Text adapted from Russia, Royalty & the Romanovs, London, 2018