Tennis photos - Finland and Crimea

[nena]

I have noticed that there are many shoots of all members of the IF taken at Finland (For Dowager Maria's namesday) in 1912, and also at Livadia, during IF's 1914 visit at Crimea (relating tennis court, there are video clips of them playing tennis), but Aleksei seems to be abandoned in those series of photos. Has anyone idea why, and is there any existing photo of him taken at this two places outside?

Thanks in advance. I think it has something to do with his forbiddings given by Empress (and she also appears rarely).

[Condecontessa]

Alexei had hemophilia so his Mom didn't allow him to play tennis because he might get hurt from a tennis ball flying towards him. And you've got to consider the impact on his elbows when playing tennis. I feel bad for him growing up not being able to play like normal kids when it comes to sports.

[Sarushka]

Thanks in advance. I think it has something to do with his forbiddings given by Empress (and she also appears rarely).

I've seen just one short film clip of Alexandra serving a tennis ball -- I believe it's in the National Geographic Documentary, "Russia's Last Tsar."

None of my tennis photos seem to include Aleksei.

[CorisCapnSkip]

Yeah, tennis involves a lot of sudden stops and there can be falls.  I got hit in the eye with a ball once.  I have never seen a picture of Alexei playing or even holding the equipment.  Gilliard left a description of Alexei begging to play tennis and Alexandra turning him down, resulting in a flood of tears.  Perhaps they didn't even take him to watch as the poor kid felt so bad about it.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Good observations, "CorisCapnSkip," et al:  As we  know from personal experience, tennis can be strenuous, resulting in the inevitable fall, hit in face by a ball, etc., all potentially threating to the Heir.  As a related aside: The same goes for other things which resulted in his being POSED, not actually actively participating.  For instance, has anyone ever seen a photo/film clip of the Heir astride a MOVING pony/horse?  Oh yes, there are photos of him perched, even without a saddle, on a STANDING (as opposed to running) pony/horse, but MOVING???  I think not.  Likewise, despite his being very interested in the soldier's life, with his multitude of uniforms, orders, decorations, weapons, etc., he is never photographed in the act of actually FIRING a rifle (when old enough to do so).  Even for those of us who have fired military weapons, the recoil can leave a nasty bruise if not properly handled.  AP

[CorisCapnSkip]

It was certainly not because the cameras of the time couldn't handle action photos, as evidenced by this picture of Quentin Roosevelt, who was a few years older than Alexei:

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Indeed!  Thanks,  AP.

[clockworkgirl21]

I've never seen Aleksey in any of the photos with the IF in Finland, playing with the boards either.

[nena]

Well, I found something, Nicholas and his children at tennis court, of course Anna Vyrubova included too,  labeled to be taken sometime 1911 -- 1913.

[Sarushka]

Excellent find!

I would guess this is 1911 or maybe early 1912. (If it was summer of 1912, I think Aleksei and the men would be wearing white. And of course the Spala crisis in autumn of 1912 left Aleksei unable to walk for many months into 1913.)

[nena]

Thank you.  ;-) I completely agree with you, since IF visited Livadia Palace in the autumns of 1911 and 1913. I think 1911 is correct year.

[Ally Kumari]

My guess is 1911 .... Stuning new find!

[CorisCapnSkip]

It was certainly not because the cameras of the time couldn't handle action photos, as evidenced by this picture of Quentin Roosevelt, who was a few years older than Alexei:

Nearly seven years older, but I didn't realize when I posted this that they died only three days apart!

[PAGE]

I did not really know where to post this link: an article on the tennis courts of the imperial family in Finland. It's in Russian, and a bit depressing. It's sad to think that one hundred years ago the imperial family spent some of their best moments in what is now a jungle!

http://www.tsaarinikolai.com/tekstit/A_my_v_storone.htm