Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (Frittie) and Princess Marie (May) of Hesse-Darmstadt

[Helen]

Judith Poore has a ready pen; I like how she combined excerpts from Emily Loch's diaries with detailed background information.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. Her portrait of Alicky was a more relaxed picture than others.

[myhusbandswife]

I found this site with photos of May and Fritti. I have never seen any photos of them before. I hope this wasn't already posted.
http://family.webshots.com/album/548101667sxJYQt

[AnastasiaNikolaevna]

Sorry if anyone has already asked this!

I'm looking for any links, pictures or general information about Princess Marie, Alix's sister. I don't think there is much, and I've only seen 3 pics of her, because she died when she was 4, but apparently she was very close to Alix so any info would be great!

Thanks!

[Svetabel]

Please, do a search before starting a new topic. I had to merge the threads. Browse the Hesse Forum and you'll find a lot of info and pictures.

[AnastasiaNikolaevna]

I'm so sorry! I'll look now.

[Thomas_Hesse]

Augusto Varnesi:
Sarcuphagus of Marie (May) Princess of Hesse and the Rhine. 1910



Sarcopahgus of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (Frittie) of Hesse and the Rhine. 1910

[AnastasiaNikolaevna]

Thank you!

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks for the photo. Lovely and well made. It is with the place where Alice also buried right ?

[Thomas_Hesse]

Yes true! In the Neues Mausoleum!

[Condecontessa]

Thomas, are there any information as to the design of each of the sarcophagus? Are there symbolisms used that pertains to Grand Duchess Alice's preferences?

[Thomas_Hesse]

Thomas, are there any information as to the design of each of the sarcophagus? Are there symbolisms used that pertains to Grand Duchess Alice's preferences?

The sarcophagus of Frittie and May were done by the Italian sculptor Augusto Varnesi - as the Mausoleum is in some aspects a copy the grave of Galla Placidia in Ravenna Ernst Ludwig probably wished his sibling's sarcophagus to be copies of Ravennese paragons. In Marie's case it is the "Honorius sarcophagus" - in Frittie's another unnamed sarc. from the Galla Placidia. There is one alteration on both pieces: poppies on either side as a symbol of eternal sleep.

Alice's effigy was probably done by Böhm himself (he died in 1890 - and as the mausoleum was erected in 1910 I am not sure whether it is a copy of the original at Frogmore by Ludwig Habich who also manufactured the Grand Duke's effigy). The lower part with precious golden mosaics was done by Augusto Varnesi depicting the cross as a symbol of christianity, a phoenix as a symbol of resurrection and the "agnus dei" as a symbol of Christ's victory over death. Above the monument is a relief of the British national patron St. George. The mosaics show the stylized cypher "A"

The Grand Duke's effigy shows him with a sword - Varnesi also designed the lower part with stylized "L"s. Above it is a relief of St. Elisabeth of Thuringia - the partron Saint of the Hessian Royal House.

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks for the information. I think Italy had the best artists for this sort of work during this period.

[Carolath Habsburg]

May and sister Alexandra



 

[Eric_Lowe]

On the day of her supposed 20th birthday (May's), Alicky thought back how it would be if May survived...She never really forgotton her little sister.