The Book In OTMA's 1914 Formal Photos

[Olga Bernice]

(Feel free to move this thread as necessary. I was not sure where to put it.)

In the photograph below, OTMA was looking at a book. Obviously it is illegible to see clearly, but is there any record at all over what book that is? It is an interesting topic to me, because I am an avid reader and would like to know, if possible.

This photo:


It was one of a very recognizable set taken in 1914.

**This photo belongs entirely to GD Ally. It is from her website, which can be accessed here.**

[blessOTMA]

The page we can see has a photo and some other  boxed image below...there are no group of words in the visual page, unless there is a caption. So it seems a picture book...it's size indicates this as well. Much was published the year before for the 300 hundred celebration , I believe. The book seems to be bound in white leather...it's on the table in Olga's formals where she's sitting down. It's closed and her arm resting on it. The other, smaller  book  in Olga's hand  seems to be of poetry as the words are in a column in the middle of the page .

[Olga Bernice]

So . . . perhaps it was a children's book that OTMA chose themselves?

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

The other, smaller  book  in Olga's hand  seems to be of poetry as the words are in a column in the middle of the page .

Wow! It must be your painter's eye for detail that made you notice such a tiny little thing! I looked, and it's very hard to see, but I think I know what you mean. Maybe the Lermotov (sp?) she read in The Lost Crown!   Is it known whether Olga read that book? Knowing Sarushka, it probably is true!
I've always wondered about that book, too, Olga Bernice. It looks like there's a column of text down the middle of the page below the picture, and the painting seems to be a countryside landscape. But who knows? I tried to magnify it, to no avail. Too blurry. However, it just doesn't seem to be a little kid's picture book to me, for some reason. Maybe I'm seeing the page wrong, but I'm imagining it as a book of poetry with pastoral paintings.

[Sarushka]

Maybe the Lermotov (sp?) she read in The Lost Crown!   Is it known whether Olga read that book? Knowing Sarushka, it probably is true!

I'd never heard of Lermontov before writing The Lost Crown, so I'm reasonably sure that my fictional Olga's fondness for his poetry is based in fact. However, I've never been able to retrace my source for that info, so I can't guarantee it.

(I do know that she was unfamiliar with Nekrasov's poetry until Gilliard read it to the IF in Tobolsk.)

[blessOTMA]

However, it just doesn't seem to be a little kid's picture book to me, for some reason.

I would say not....it seems quite grown up...almost a presentation book of some sort. Seems to me the white or light leather binding is unusal for then.  It has to be fairly special.  In the 1914 photo where TN is standing and looking down at the book , but  Marie, Olga and AN are sitting (AN on Olga's chair arm with her own arm about her sister )and looking into  the lens,  one can see the book has  a page of words...interesting book. Thanks, Olga Bernice  for the topic

It was chosen by someone because if they are all to gather around a book , it needs to be larger than most. I just saw a photo of their grandmother ,Princess Alice, and their Uncle Ernie looking at a book together in similar fashion ...and we know Alexis had one placed in his hands in some of  his 1913 formals . Of course it's completely fitting Olga would have a book in her hand and  reading in one of her formals. A book is never far...in fact she has one in the 1913 portraits with TN...were ON is sitting and looking up to the standing TN

[blessOTMA]

Maybe the Lermotov (sp?) she read in The Lost Crown!   Is it known whether Olga read that book? Knowing Sarushka, it probably is true!

I'd never heard of Lermontov before writing The Lost Crown, so I'm reasonably sure that my fictional Olga's fondness for his poetry is based in fact. However, I've never been able to retrace my source for that info, so I can't guarantee it.

It's interesting  that Lermontov's   poetry plays a very large part in the novel about Olga from the 1970's, " The Snow Mountain. " That could be based on some known info as well.

(I do know that she was unfamiliar with Nekrasov's poetry until Gilliard read it to the IF in Tobolsk.)

Does Gilliard  speak about that? or does she in a letter? Her reaction would be interesting.   

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

...in fact she has one in the 1913 portraits with TN...were ON is sitting and looking up to the standing TN

That book looks blank! I'm sure it isn't, though.

[Sarushka]

(I do know that she was unfamiliar with Nekrasov's poetry until Gilliard read it to the IF in Tobolsk.)

Does Gilliard  speak about that? or does she in a letter? Her reaction would be interesting.  

It might have been one of the female courtiers who followed them into exile -- Bittner or Schneider, I think? It was something to the effect of Why didn't anyone tell us we had such a poet?

[blessOTMA]

It might have been one of the female courtiers who followed them into exile -- Bittner or Schneider, I think? It was something to the effect of Why didn't anyone tell us we had such a poet?

Sarushka,  I can really see them saying that...interesting... like the ideas they got from nurse friends....unexpected circumstances leading to new knowledge

[Sunny]

I'd never heard of Lermontov before writing The Lost Crown

Really??? What a lucky girl you are! I didn't took only russian language, but also literature (it is not possible to take it separately in italian colleges, unless you go on a special school for interpreters), and Lermontov was my nightmare. My teacher was OBSESSED about him. I had to read quite everything he wrote, from Geroj nashego vremeni (an hero of our times)  to the very last poem... i didn not like "an hero of our times" and i did not like Lermontov. It was my nightmare.
Well, i'm a bit strange, i've to admit. I don't like Pushkin, as well as Dostoevskij (!!!!), but i'm fond of Tolstoj. I'm a weird woman.

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

I'm a weird woman.

No you are not!  Now you've got me wanting to read some classic Russian poetry! 

Now: another question about this photo: Who is the full painting in the corner of?

[Sarushka]

Now: another question about this photo: Who is the full painting in the corner of?

The frame appears to match the Kaulbach portrait of AF:

[Olga Bernice]

Wow, Andrea, I was so intent on the book that I didn't even notice the frame! It does look a lot like the one in Sarushka's picture - and is that the table they were sitting at at the bottom of yours, Sarushka?

[Sarushka]

and is that the table they were sitting at at the bottom of yours, Sarushka?

Sure looks like it to me.