Maria photos III

[Ally Kumari]

Every time I see a new picture of Maria I recall a small book from 1917 that I have, which lists all people of importance during the time of Russian revolution. OTMA are metioned as well. Maria´s entry is terribly brief, but quite curious considering the "academic" tone of the book. It says "Maria Nicholaievna: third daughter of the ex-Tsar. She is undoubtedly the most beautiful of his daughters."

[Maria Sisi]

Interesting that a book in 1917 would call Maria the most beautiful. And while all the girls had a certain beauty to them I agree.

I know the opinions of beauty change with every generation and for the most part people of today's generation do seem to call Maria the most beautiful of the sisters but I thought back then Tatiana was considered the beauty.

I don't remember who it was that said it but I remember reading a quote from a really close friend of the family (I'm sure it was one of Alexandra's friends) who said that Maria was very pretty but some of her features where not considered ideal, such as her lips which were considered too thick. They always single out Tatiana with the most praise even though all the girls are praised in their own way.

[Ally Kumari]

It was Anna Vyrubova who noted that Maria had thick lips that "detracted from her beauty". The courtiers did usually take Tatiana for the most beautiful back at hte time, but Maria had many admireres as well, particularly later during captivity.

[Maria Sisi]

Maria looking very beautiful and natural closeup

[thebelgianhare]

Aww out of all the sisters Maria's hair always looks so soft and glossy - really healthy, it never looks frizzy or dry! Unbelievable. Credits to her hairdressers and genes

[Maria Sisi]

Aww out of all the sisters Maria's hair always looks so soft and glossy - really healthy, it never looks frizzy or dry! Unbelievable. Credits to her hairdressers and genes

Its a big contrast in comparison to Anastasia's hair which frankly when messy looked kind of dirty and unclean. With a change of less fancy clothes she could pass off as homeless. Maria's hair on the other hand looks soft and silky even when messy. Even if she were dressed in rags she would still look every bit a royal as the pictures from their imprisonment show.

[thebelgianhare]

Aww, I can well imagine Anastasia not liking her hair being done and having to sit still for it to be completed. Though it did look much more managed when she got a little older and her hair was up. Yet I think I'll always prefer the au-naturel impish look on her, but that's just me being stubborn and sentimental. Perhaps the other girls got their hair more from their mother? she was said to have 'unruly' hair. (I know that feeling haha). Did the girls trim their hair or just let it grow? If it's the latter it's remarkable any looked as good as they did. I wonder if Maria plaited her hair, put it in 'rags', or if it was just naturally wavy. My hair is naturally wavy AND unruly, perhaps I need to try out Maria's routine haha. Whilst we're on the strange subject of hair, Nicholas seemed to have silky hair too but then that's a hard one to tell from the male styling products of the time. Dowager Empress Marie seemed to have very tamed hair though, though again, with all the irons and styling preferred in her generation it is difficult to tell.

[Coronerofthecourt]

Мария Николаевна в Стрельне, 1912 (?) год
ГА РФ, ф. 640 оп. 3 д. 25 л. 18 об. фото 259

[Ally Kumari]

Ah! My Dragoon Maria! She looked so fine in that uniform, so regal. It is my life-long regreat that there (probably) are no pictures of Maria in adult version of a court dress (like the Olga and Tatiana wore in 1914), because she would have looked incredible in it.

[Olga Maria]

Ally, the author of that 1917 book you have is very truthful in describing Maria : )  I also am thinking the author said that because of Maria's Russian beauty. Tho' Olga to me also looks just as Russian, people then would be in consensus in saying she is the only Russian beauty among the sisters so for them she's the most beautiful. Thanks for posting that, too! It's awesome to know another person complimenting her at such awful times.

Thebelgianhare, good observation! I just noticed that after reading your post. It's also interesting to find out about their hair regimen (especially the shampoo,lol) They did have their hair done, too, so maybe that did something to make her hair look greater. But on bad hair days, yay, what's her secret? As you said, perhaps it's in her genes. I agree with what you said on Anastasia's hair (preferring the impish look) and the reason why her hair looked almost always unkempt in ordinary days. It suits her personality and adds to her comedienne side

Maria Sisi, hahaha! I cannot say more! You excellently worded that!

[clockworkgirl21]

I feel like Anastasia always got some unfair treatment when it came to her appearance. It's fine to talk about that on a message board, but it even makes it into biographical books! Which is unprofessional, if you ask me. One book (can't remember the title) even said something like, "Anastasia promised to be a beauty as a child, but that promise was never to be realized." What the heck? That's just unnecessary.

I think Anastasia often comes off as looking unkempt because you're looking at her beside her sisters. Yes, I admit OTM were prettier than Anastasia. But that's never made Anastasia look unattractive to me, just plainer. And I also admit that I'm more willing to bat for Anastasia here because I can identify a bit. My hair looks unbrushed and not taken care of no matter what I do to it. I go out into the wind, and it looks like I've been lost in the woods for a week. I think it might have been the same story with A.

Anyway, I have to point out the one photo we have of Anastasia with her hair up before she was shaved. In my opinion, she looked just as lovely as Maria and Tatiana there. I wish we had more of her hair up.

[Maria the Beautiful]

I understood that to mean that because of her untimely death Anastasia would never have the opportunity grow into the  beauty she was promising to be.   I don't see anything unfair about that statement.

[clockworkgirl21]

Well, the passage went on to describe Anastasia as "dumpy" and said her hair lay flat on her forehead. That doesn't sound promising. Also, Anastasia was 17 when she died, already a woman physically.

Maybe that isn't what the author meant, but that's how I took it with his unflattering description of her.

[edubs31]

Clockwork I'm with you 100%

I feel like Anastasia always got some unfair treatment when it came to her appearance. It's fine to talk about that on a message board, but it even makes it into biographical books! Which is unprofessional, if you ask me. One book (can't remember the title) even said something like, "Anastasia promised to be a beauty as a child, but that promise was never to be realized." What the heck? That's just unnecessary.

Offensive and unnecessary indeed. Do you think that maybe these occasionally disparaging comments about her looks are made by those who didn't like her personality? Obviously a lot has been said about her ill behavior (at least as a younger girl). So maybe this is as an author's way of saying, "You suck and you're ugly too".

I think Anastasia often comes off as looking unkempt because you're looking at her beside her sisters. Yes, I admit OTM were prettier than Anastasia. But that's never made Anastasia look unattractive to me, just plainer. And I also admit that I'm more willing to bat for Anastasia here because I can identify a bit. My hair looks unbrushed and not taken care of no matter what I do to it. I go out into the wind, and it looks like I've been lost in the woods for a week. I think it might have been the same story with A.

Right. And I also agree that her occasionally unkempt look added to her charm. People always talk about what they enjoy about OTMA is that they seemed so common and ordinary once you removed the regal veil. But then criticize Anastasia for looking too ordinary? I too get tired of her being treated as the Ringo in the group by certain folks.

Anyway, I have to point out the one photo we have of Anastasia with her hair up before she was shaved. In my opinion, she looked just as lovely as Maria and Tatiana there. I wish we had more of her hair up.

Nice thought. What is so enjoyable about photos of OTMA is they each have a distinct look, and I feel their personalities really come through in their poses and facial expressions.

[Kalafrana]

I don't normally comment on people's looks (in either direction), and I'm no fan of Anastasia (I would lose patience with her very rapidly).

That said, she was only 5ft 2 tall (not going to grow any more), and distinctly chubby in the Tobolsk period.

There does seem to be a sense among some posters that no girl or woman can be anything but beautiful. Would anyone be complaining if someone remarked of a photograph, 'Mikhail was definitely losing his hair by then,' or 'Alexander III was putting on weight'?

Ann