Alexander II is holding his son Pavel. His other son Sergei stands behind his right shoulder. To Sergei's right are Tsesarevich Aleksandr and his wife Maria Feodorovna; continuing in that right direction are Vladimir and Aleksei Aleksandrovichi and their sister Maria Aleksandrovna. In front of these siblings is Empress Maria Aleksandrovna. To her right is GD Maria Nikolaevna and her family, the Leucthenbergs. In front of her is GD Aleksandra Iosifovna holding her son Viacheslav. Not sure if that is GD Olga with Konstantin and Dmitrii to AI's right.
Behind the Emperor's left shoulder is GD Nikolai Nikolaevich (the elder), Prince Petr Georgievich of Oldenburg, GD Mikhail Nikolaevich with his son GD Nikolai, GD Konstantin Nikolaevich with his son GD Nikolai. GD Elena Pavlovna is very easily recognizable sitting on the right hand side, in front of the piano, with her left hand supporting her head.
From here it gets very difficult for me to tell who is who... Certainly GD Olga Nikolaevna, the Queen of Wurttemburg, and her family are among those near GD Elena. The younger Nikolaevichi and Mikhailovich are with their mothers also in this part of the painting. GD Ekaterina Mikhailovna and her family, the Meckleburg-Strelitz are in this part. The Oldenburgs are certainly somewhere here as well.
I have seen this in a few books and have always been intrigued if it still exists; I have never seen it in a museum in Russia and not even sure who painted it. In one of my books somewhere there is a table identifying who is who. I just can't remember which one and while I am at work now (please don't tell my boss), I will only be able to fill in the gaps later.
Would be curious if anyone else has thoughts on who is who.
Charles
