Olga and Tatiana at Court Events

[Lanie]

Maria's tripping and falling happened in 1915 or 1916; the fisrt time she'd been "out," wearing a blue gown, her hair up, pearls, etc.  She was on the arm of one of her cousins the Grand Dukes and, as she walked into the room, tripped on herself and fell.

[Sarai_Porretta]

Do you recall any particulars about the event regarding Marie, Sarai?

Sorry, Pasha, that is all I can recall. Not many more details were given in the original passage, however. I just wish I could remember where exactly I read that story!

[Lanie]

I read it in one of Buxhoeveden's books--perhaps her bio on Alexandra?

[Pasha]

We know about Olga "coming out" in 1911 and Marie being "out " in 1915 or 1916. so when did Tatia attend her first function? Was it the event at Anchikov Palace in 1914? But this is the event with Olga dancing with her father, right?

We've heard of Olga in her pink dress and Marie in her blue dress....what about Tatiana? :-/ Maybe she was too busy being the Governess to everybody else!

[Lanie]

TN never had a ball for herself; only ON really did.  The last one she went to was the 1914 Anichkov one (which was the first one, technically, for her--it was for her and Olga, held by Maria F as we've said already).

[Pasha]

Poor Tatiana...no party just for her. What do you know about the Marie F ball? Any idea as to who would have been there? Obviously, members of the extended royal family, nobility, government officials. Would foreign dignitaries been at an event like this? Ambassadors, military attaches, etc?

I am sure this event must have been quite lavish . It would be interesting to know how many attended; what kind of food; what kind of music, etc. We have a tendency to think in black and white about these events, because the film of the era is black and white, but can you imagine all the color, the jewels, and extravagance?  

It must have even outshined the Oscars!!!

[Lanie]

I'd love to know more about the ball but I simply don't really... I'll go check up on things I have and will reply back if I find anything interesting.

[Pasha]

Thanks, Lanie. I'll do the same. Iam waiting for a few books to come in from Amazon.

Wouldn't you like to know what kind of music, food, guests, etc.?

[Lanie]

All I know is from Izvolsky's memoirs; no more, no less.  I'm at school now so when I get home I'll check some my other books and sources I've got typed up on my computer.  It seems like after the midnight supper where Olga and Tatiana dined without their father they had a grand time, dancing a lot, etc and left at around five AM (!).

[Sarai_Porretta]

I read it in one of Buxhoeveden's books--perhaps her bio on Alexandra?

Thank you, Lanie, I knew it was in one of those memoires! Indeed it is in Buxhoeveden's bio on Alexandra. Pasha, here is the passage describing Maria's party. As you will read, it was not exactly a party exclusively for Maria, but she happened to make her first official appearance at it:

"The Emperor was almost uninterruptedly at Mohileff during the summer and early autumn of 1916. He came back for short spells, both in October and November. During this second stay a slight stir was caused at Court by the visit of the Crown Prince Carol of Rumania - his second visit to Russia. This was the last time a State dinner was given. It was marked by the first official appearance of the Grand Duchess Marie, the Emperor's third daughter. She looked extremely pretty in her pale blue dress, wearing the diamonds that her parents gave to each of their daughters on her sixteenth birthday. Poor child! she felt that the world was coming to an end and that she was disgraced in its eyes for ever, when she slipped in her new high-heeled shoes and fell down as she was entering the dining-hall, on the arm of a tall Grand Duke. On hearing the noise, the Emperor remarked jokingly, 'Of course, fat Marie.'"

[Pasha]

That's great, Sarai! Thanks. Where do you ladies find these books? They  must be from the 20's or 30's! Find them on Amazon.com?

I just reread Iswolsky's account of the ball at the Anichkov Palace in 1914. Alexandra did not appear, as usual, and Olga and Tatiana came in following Nicholas in his familiar khaki uniform. The grand duchesses were in white dresses.
And, apparently, they danced til dawn. She paints a very elaborate and colorful picture of the event.

[Sarai_Porretta]

That's great, Sarai! Thanks. Where do you ladies find these books? They  must be from the 20's or 30's! Find them on Amazon.com?

Dear Pasha,
This very website is an excellent resource for reading old Romanov books online. They have this book by Buxhoeveden, plus memoirs by other contemporaries such as Pierre Gilliard, Lili Dehn, and Anna Vyrubova, among others. Here is the link: http://www.alexanderpalace.org/

[Pasha]

Thanks so much, Sarai. I checked out the site and there is a wealth of information there I actually found a very interesting book in an old book store...Education of a Princess by Marie Grand Duchess of Russia. She was actually Nicholas II cousin, the daughter of Grand Duke Paul, the brother of Alexander III. It  was originally published in 1931 and my edition is the 11th printing in 1934. It must have been a very popular book in the 30's. She was born in 1890, so she was only 5 years older than Olga, and 7 years older than Tatiana. She mentions some elaborate events, but I will have to read further. Her brother Dimitri was an accomplice of Yussopov in the murder of Rasputin.
Amazing what little treasures you can find

[Shvibzik]

If you're looking for a picture, here's one (sorry for the size :-/):



Close-up:

[Pasha]

Thanks so much for posting that.   I believe this is the painting Lanie spoke about at the Anichkov palace? I believe this was 1914 before the war?

This artwork really captures the elegance and extravagance of these last days of peace in the old imperial court. I am still a bit surprised that there is no photographic evidence of this or other events like it.  

I would love to get inside some of  the photographic and cinematic vaults that the old Soviet regime locked away. Maybe someday.

Thanks again, Shvibzik. Glad you joined us!