Personal Attributes of Nicholas II

[hikaru]

I have found in another book, that it was tatoo boom in the beginning of the century in Russia ( maybe because of Nicholas and Grand Dukes had it? )
I have read about special ball called "tatoo ball" which was held in Moscow . A lot of aristocracy and merchants (who were far more richer than lattest) participated in it.
Everybody had to make tatoo before participate in the ball. For this purpose, one most expensive and good tattoo  specialist came from London.

[hikaru]

It seems that there is something in the area of his elbow on the photo.

[helenazar]

I have found in another book, that it was tatoo boom in the beginning of the century in Russia ( maybe because of Nicholas and Grand Dukes had it? )
 

According to several other sources, so did Catherine the Great and Peter the Great. If this is true, the trend  goes way back!  

[Sarushka]

It's possible that the tatoo was on the inside of the arm - the part we can't see in any of these photos.

That seems to be our only remaining option -- unless it was a very small dragon!

[Belochka]

Shevich s nami goveet.

= "Shevich is fasting with us"

[Belochka]

That seems to be our only remaining option -- unless it was a very small dragon!

No doubt any tatoo would have been tiny without being obvious.  Hardly imperious when being constantly photographed!

[Sarushka]

No doubt any tatoo would have been tiny without being obvious.

Which makes me wonder why it took 7 hours to complete!

[helenazar]

It could just be that it was on the inside of the forearm (where the ulna bone is)...

Kind of like this, but smaller:



If so, then this is why we wouldn't be able to see it on any of the pics that Sarah posted.

[Eddie_uk]

LOL, very wise, most people i know end up regretting them!

I can't see any tattoos on Nicky. he has a super physique in those photos.

I remember reading, it think it was Prince Louis of Battenburg was covered in tattoos and would show his grandchildren!!

[helenazar]

I can't see any tattoos on Nicky.

But we don't have any pics where the inside of his right forearm is showing...

[grandduchessella]

I wouldn't have been surprised if he got one when he visited Japan. There was a famous tattooist there (I forget the name but I posted it on the tattooed royalty thread) that a lot of royals visited. Edward VII, Eddy, George all went there when they were in the area. I think George Greece had one as well so maybe he and NII had them done on that visit?

[Marialana]

I think I've finally seen this much-discussed tattoo! I'm super untalented at posting links correctly, so I have to give "directions". On the Beinecke site, Album 2, page 9, 3rd picture in is a photo of Nicholas alone with his sleeve rolled up. If you click enlarge the pic twice you can definitely see something! Eureka, methinks I've found it!  

[helenazar]

Thanks, Marialana. Here is the close up of the picture... I think I also see something that could be a tatoo, but it's hard to tell... it sort of looks more like a scar... It doesn't really look a dragon either.

[Marialana]

Thanks for posting the pic! It is kind of hard to see, definitely, but I think I can see some dragon wings. Or, maybe, I just want to see dragon wings, and it's a scar after all!  

[Dmitry2]

I don't think that is it.  Certainly, that isn't 7 hours of work, as HIM claimed it took.