Olga and Tatiana at Court Events

[Lanie]

That painting that was posted is from 23 (I think!) February 1913, the ball at the Assembly Hall of the Nobility which Nicholas and Alexandra took Olga, who danced the night away.  It was painted in 1915.

[Shvibzik]

It's a painting by Dmitri Nikolaevich Kardovsky of the Ball at the Assembly Hall of the Nobility in St.Petersburg 1915.
This ball was held on 23 february 1913 during the tricentenary celebrations. The family had arrived in St.P. from Tsarskoe Selo on the 19th.
Nicholas, Alexandra and Olga attended the ball.

Here's also a quote from Nicholas diary:  
"Saturday 23rd february. At nine o'clock we got ready and took Olga with us to the ball at the Assembly Hall of the Nobility. Saltykov brought us the bread and salt in the Great Hall; then they played a new cantata. After that we danced the Polka and then the dancing began. Olga danced a lot. Alix was the fist to go, then Mama left, and finally Olga and I at 11.40. A splendid gathering and a beautiful ball."

Quotes from Anna.

[Pasha]

Thanks for that info.

I know that Tatiana was not quite 16 at the time of this ball, but, I believe another reason she may not have been there is because she was bedridden with with typhoid fever at the time, due to drinking unsanitary water.

That is a wonderful painting. Is there any information about who was attending? I assume the Russian nobility and government officials. But were ther foreign dignitaries, etc? I would think that this would have been an international event with many countries paying respects to the Romanovs' 300 year celebration.

[Shvibzik]

Thanks for that info.
I know that Tatiana was not quite 16 at the time of this ball, but, I believe another reason she may not have been there is because she was bedridden with with typhoid fever at the time, due to drinking unsanitary water.

I've read that before too.  Somewhere...

[Shvibzik]

If Nicholas, Alix, and Olga attended the court, who stayed with TMAA?  Or did they even need to have anyone to watch them, since there were servants, ladies-in-waiting, ect.?

[Pasha]

I am sure there were people who were responsible for seeing to the care of the other children, as you say, ladies-in waiting, etc. Alexei had a sailor , I believe it was Derevenko, who was always at his side. Was it Buxhoeveden who was with usually with the girls?

Also, it's interesting that Alexandra was the first to leave. She was often the first to leave, if she even attended at all. I do believe that Tatiana was ill at  this time, early in 1913, so she must have been well taken care of. Perhaps it is one reason why Alix left so early.  And, lest we forget, where is Rasputin at this time Is it possible he is at this ball? Probably not, but I would love to see the guest list

[Holly]

I think it is sad that Anastasia never had a ball of her own. Does anyone know if she ever attended a real ball?

[Pasha]

I'm sure others know more about this than me, but it appears that the last great ball was in 1914, just before the start of WWI, although it was mentioned that Marie attended a dance with her father, I think in 1915. Either way, Anastasia would only be 14 in 1915, and the "coming out" age was 16. My guess is that she did not get to attend one of these events.

However, 1913 was the "party year" for the Romanovs. Though only 12, she must have attended many of the festivities that year

[Shvibzik]

I think it is sad that Anastasia never had a ball of her own. Does anyone know if she ever attended a real ball?

I'm pretty sure she never attended a ball.  She may have attended "feastivities", but not a ball because she wasn't of age.

I could be wrong. :-/

[Pasha]

From what we have discussed, it appears as though Olga was the only Grand Duchess to have her own "coming out" party or ball. Tatiana, Marie, and Anastasia never did. The war and the revolution played the major roles in that.

Maybe we could track down some of those events in 1913 that may have included elaborate state dinners, dancing and celebrations that the children would have attended.

 

[Pasha]

I recently bought and viewed a video "The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty" which is a documentary of the fall of the tsar and the rise of Lenin and the bolsheviks. It was made in 1927 by Esther Shub who pieced together some incredible footage of Russia before, during and just after WWI. There is a fair amount of footage of the Romanovs. I would highly recommend it to students of Russian history, as this contains so much actual footage. It is obviously very slanted in favor of the bolsheviks, but, nevertheless, very interesting to see events as they actually happened. Of course, it is a silent film, with a musical background.

There is some footage (portrayed negatively, of course) of the events and pageantry of the 1913 celebrations. There is a scene that features a "who's who" of Russian nobility and the Romanov family. It is especially gratifying to see Olga and Tatiana
as they moved in this procession. We have all seen so many photos of the family, it is very special to see the family as they moved, talked and breathed. As they walk, you can see Olga and Tatiana talking to each other and smiling. A sailor, likely Derevenko, is carrying Alexei.

I picked this up on Amazon.com. Even though it is heavy on the bolshevik propoganda, it is historical film footage. I think many of you would enjoy it, especially the Romanov footage.

Pasha

[Pasha]

I have been out of the loop for a while, so forgive me if I am repeating something that has been discussed. I see that Greg King has written a new book "The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II".  I am looking forward to reading this book. There must be a fair amount in it pertaining to the 1913 celebrations, balls, etc., as well as some fascinating insight into the last royal family.

Evidently, it is to be released in March, 2006, but I preordered it on Amazon.com
with a potential delivery of just after Christmas.

Also, on another note, I would highly recommend the new book by Edvard Radzinsky, "Alexander II, The Last Great Tsar". This is a fast reading biography of Nicohlas II's grandfather. If you are interested in the Romanov's and Russian history, you will enjoy this book very much.

Pasha

[cimbrio]

In the old days (and some families today, though usually those which are better off) parents used to dress children alike or in the same pattern. My mom and her five siblings were all dressed alike, and when I aske dher why, she said that parnest did this to avoid showing favouritism. I don't know if this is totally true, but for instance, Infanta Cristina of Spain's family (especially her three sons) are often see wearing the smae clothes. Other royal families of Europe do the same as you can see in many modern photos.

[matushka]

Does anyone know the very interesting description of Spiridonovich about the Olga's coming out ball?
I will try to translate some quotations of this.
"The 3 of November the GD ON was 16 years old. In the old Russia every girl was waiting this event with impatience. It was time for the first ball, the first coming-out in the society. In the imperial family the patriarcal way of life was the rule and they stay faithfull to the old traditions. So a dinner and a party was organised at the Palace. People receive the following invitations "Her Imperial Majesty invite (name of the person) to the dinner and the dancing party who will take place on thuesday 3rd November at 6.45 at the Livadia's Palace...."
The dinner was served at little tables. A lot of lights, of silver, of flower. At the center around a table sat Their Majesty, the GD Nicolas Nicolaevich, Pierre Nicolaevich, Alex. Mikh., Georges Mikh. and their wifes and the Minister of the Court.
ON had a pink dress and for the first time her hair up. She preside an other table. Her cavaler was NP Sabline. She was a very naive young girl and often ask her cavaler what she had to do. At her side was sitting TN with her cavaler NN Rodionov. At the same table was the Boukhara's emir, the generals Komarov and Kniagevich. At the others tables was the youngest GD, the GD's children, the prince of Grece Christophore (and so on) and a delegation of... Olga's regiment.
After the dinner all the personn who was not a part of the IF were presented to Their Majesty. At the same time, the room was prepared for the ball.
(Then Spiridonovich relate about the great honor Nicolas II did to Olga's regiment, and the reaction of his daughtger)
Then they started to dance. It was a succession of valses, contre-valses, mazurkas... It was said that the cavalers could invite the GD without asking a special autorization. (he relate the dances)
The Empress felt hersel very bad. She was sitting in an armchair near a colonne and was looking at the feast. In front of her was standing the Tsarevich. He looked around with a great curiosity. He was already tired but did not want to go to bed (... His father) came and told him some words. The Tsarevich went home with his tutors Gilliard and Petrov.
The whole ball the Empereur played bridge. He often went to see how the young people had fun. All were very happy. The GD danced as butterflies. The 2 older was wearing the same dress and had hair up. The youngest had also similar shorts dress, and the hair back (...)
It was 2 oclock when they dance the last mazurka. The Empress stand up (...)

Such a graceful description... I will try to translate other passages about other courts events with the GD. As we see, it was not so strict. Tatiana was not yet 16, but she had hair up for this very event and the all GD dance until 2 o clock! Other quotations will show us that Tatiana was in fact once in her life at a real ball, in Moscow the 26 may 1913. She had also other (not so important occasions) to dance at real little ball in the Crimea.

[Justine]

Thank you for that. It explain me a lot. Thank you very much