Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovitch, discussion and pictures

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. I heard stories like that. I think in a film Nicholas's daughters were shown looking at a swimming picture of their father in the nude. Quite scandalous for today though.

[Svetabel]

Portrait of GD Sergei, by K.Lemokh, 1886 year.

http://www.kabinet-auktion.com/auction/art11/016/

Click on the images, the splendid portrait, unknhown before. The auction was on December 15 and the portrait was not sold - probably price is too high - 2 200 000 - 2 600 000 rus.roubles.


About this portrait GD Sergei wrote to someone (I think to his cousin Konstantin) that it would be a surprise to his wife.

[Eric_Lowe]

He has the surprised look on hos face. Not friendly one.

[Clelia]

Thank you Svetabel for the link.

I think it's a very nice portrait.
Gd Serge looks very well, and the painting is full of detail, something to notice considering that it is so small, measuring only 31 X 24,5 cm.

[Eric_Lowe]

I do wonder did Ella received it ? If so what happen to it afterwards...

[rachel5a]

I was reading an article about building in Jerusalem called Sergey House and found this information

At the beginning of the 1920’s, on behalf of the Council of the Society and its President, Prince A.A. Shirinsky-Shikhmatov, N.R. Seleznieff submitted a declaration to the Jerusalem Lands Court on the transfer of ownership of the Sergey House and other properties to the name of the OPS. The court ruled the following: to summon by announcements in newspapers the heirs of G.D. Sergey Alexandrovich, in whose name the properties were registered. Not one of the heirs of the Grand Duke Sergey Alexandrovich responded

Could that be Grand Duke Dmitri P and his sister Maria, and did they know about it at all?
Thank you for help

[Eric_Lowe]

Didn't know that Sergei had property in Jerusalem. The Romanov family bought the land there to built the Church of Mary Madelaine (where Ella, Sister Barbara & Princess Andrew of Greece were interred). The only heirs are the children of the ex-mayor of Palm Beach (son of Dimtri) and the children of Prince Lennart of Sweden. They are fairly high profile people and not hard to locate.

[perdita]

He became untra-religious and control freak (on Ella). The death of his father haunted him all though his life and believing he will die young and violently (he was correct in that prediction). That is why he had that haunted look...Sad.

No doubt Serge was a control freak. Princess Victoria of Battenberg wrote that her brother-in-law Serge (whom she liked) was the lord and master of his home and that her sister Ella very much wanted this to be the case. Demonstrably Ella was a lifelong "submissive" and arguably no one knew her better than her sister Victoria.

Apparently, Ella was even more "ultra religious" than Serge. According to her neice Marie Pavolova the younger, "Although himself pious and scrupulous in observance of all the rights of Orthodoxy, Uncle Serge regarded with anxiety his wife's absorption in things spiritual, and ended by regarding it as immoderate."

As far as Marie Pavlova was concerned her Aunt Ella was also something of a "control freak". Marie wrote that Ella made obvious that she resented Marie & Dmitri's presence in her home during her husband's lifetime and held her neice on a tight reign after his death. One reason Marie gave for wanting to marry so young was to get out from under her aunt's control. Marie also desired free access to her father--something Ella strictly forbad ostensibly in her husband's memory. Marie stipulated that Ella never forgave Paul for abandoning his children and leaving them on her doorstep as it were. It seems she found painful Serge's deep affection for the children. Serge was also "profoundly attached" to their mother Princess Alexandra of Greece and never got over her death. He locked the door of the bedroom she died in and wore the key on a chain on his neck.

The Grand Duke Serge typically looks disgruntled, nervous, and somewhat menacing. Also diffident and wary. Before Alexander 11's assasination Serge appeared normal in weight. Subsequently he looked wasted and amaciated. It is possible that Serge and Paul suffered from an eating disorder. This is speculative.

[Eric_Lowe]

I don't think Ella was submissive if she did not like Serge as a person. Her cousin Willy was quite the master too, but lacked Serge's intellect and deep spirituality, both qualities attracted Ella. So she chose him.

As for Marie Paulovna, I viewed her story with a grain of salt. Most certainly Paul abandoned the children when she followed his mistress into exile. Why ? Because he gave her some of his dead wife's jewels to wear. I think if Serge care so much for Alexandra of Greece, he would be pained to see his brother ran off with :that woman". So Ella (who was also a close friend of Alexandra of Greece) never forgave Paul for ignoring his duty to his children. Her father Ludwig, never thought of remarrying until his children were all grown up. What a contrast ! I could sympathize with Ella's outrage. As for Marie Paulovna forced to marry against her wishes, new evidence debunked her claim. The letters she wrote to William of Sweden were mischievous and full of dissatisfaction with her aunt, but she was also happy to start a new life. Yes, she wanted freedom but also out of boredom. She like her father before her, also abandon her child after her divorce. Like father like daughter ?

[Kalafrana]

'The Grand Duke Serge typically looks disgruntled, nervous, and somewhat menacing. Also diffident and wary. Before Alexander 11's assasination Serge appeared normal in weight. Subsequently he looked wasted and amaciated. It is possible that Serge and Paul suffered from an eating disorder. This is speculative.'

I agree it's speculative. Alexander III, Vladimir and Alexei were all big beefy men who put on weight in later life. Sergei certainly looks gaunt in many of his pictures, but it's possible that he and Paul were just naturally lean. Paul's son Dimitri certainly was.

Ann

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. 

Both Serge & Paul were lean like their father and mother were. Not sure where the "beefiness" came from. It could be from Empress Marie's family too.

[historyfan]

Apparently, Ella was even more "ultra religious" than Serge. According to her neice Marie Pavolova the younger, "Although himself pious and scrupulous in observance of all the rights of Orthodoxy, Uncle Serge regarded with anxiety his wife's absorption in things spiritual, and ended by regarding it as immoderate."
 

Hm. Just as Empress Alexandra was accused of.

[Svetabel]

Scares the hell outta me that image. He looks very tormented (Well, in mostly of the images of him in this period). I rather to see images of young Sergei. Anyway great quality, thanks for posting!

Whos the gent beside Sergei?

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8907/033e9d528cbe2d2xl.jpg

 

It's not Amadeo of Spain is it? It looks somewhat like him but not enough that I feel confident saying for certain. He always gave me the creeps--don't know why--and this gentleman certainlly reminds me him even if it's not him! I don't know what connection the 2 would have either nor if the era's right.

Anyway, his image

Finally I've found out who's that  man. Of course he's not Amadeo of Spain. That's Christophor Derfelden, an ADC of GD Sergei, though he was not exactly an ADC, he just went travelling to Italy with Grand Duke.

[Clemence]

Today is the anniversary of his death, may he rest in peace!

[Eric_Lowe]

RIP. I wonder where he was buried at the fortress of Peter & Paul ?