What foul, fie! [re: Ioann & Helene's engagement]

[LarissaAnn]

I was just curious why was Tatiana so amused by Ioann and Helene's engagement?  

[Janet_W.]

Well, she was a teenager! And anything having to do with marriage/sex would incite giggles from a teenager, even one as comparatively dutiful and mature as Tatiana. In addition, Iaonn was considered to be something of a figure of fun.

[LarissaAnn]

ooh okay thanks Janet, I was just looking through one of my books today and I came across that quote and was curious.  Makes sense now.  

[clockworkgirl21]

What was so special about the engagment? I'm a teenager, and I admit, I'll giggle at anything related to sex, but not marriage. What's so funny about marriage? (Yes, I know nothing is really that funny about sex either, but that's for another time..)

[Romanov_fan]

That was a different era and they had different attitudes, and of course it depends on personality too, in these matters.

[Georgiy]

Maybe she just couldn't imagine those two as a couple. She after all knew, at least him, better than we do.

[Janet_W.]

One of the things you begin to notice after looking at one informal Romanov photo after another is that the grand duchesses often seem to be sharing a joke; frequently they seem on the verge of laughing and occasionally the camera does catch one of the girls in an outright laugh.  

As much as Tatiana could be "the governess" of the other three, it's nice to see that she also can be the grand duchess caught stifling a laugh with a handkerchief. And check out the photo in which she and Olga are sitting next to Paul Voronov on the deck of the Standart; Tatiana is well aware that Olga is in love with Voronov and she gives the camera a broad wink to indicate she's in on the matter.

Although preteens and teenagers are far more sexually sophisticated (if that is the word) in 2006, preoccupation with sexually-related matters is a given, whatever the era. And unlike today, when sexually active teenagers are the norm across all western world classes, sexual initiation for properly brought up young women of that time could only begin upon marriage. So it stands to reason that all four daughters would be acutely interested in marriages among young royals whom they knew, and as they were motivated by hormones--just as we are--would be excited and giggly about the subject.

[Margarita Markovna]

And check out the photo in which she and Olga are sitting next to Paul Voronov on the deck of the Standart; Tatiana is well aware that Olga is in love with Voronov and she gives the camera a broad wink to indicate she's in on the matter.

Which photo is this?

[LarissaAnn]

I'm quite positive she means this one which is an adorable picture.  I've heard some people say that Pavel Voronov was an ugly guy, but I don't think he was that bad looking honestly

[Margarita Markovna]

Thanks...

Haha to me that photo looks like it's got some damage, like it got wet, rather than she's winking!

[Janet_W.]

Thank you, LarissaAnn, for posting the photo I had earlier described.  

The first time I saw that photo, its significance went right over my head. However, a couple of summers ago while visiting the Romanov exhibit in Santa Fe, my friend and I noticed a blow-up of the photo, then added two + two with regards to the information about Voronov and Olga sent to me by another friend in Yalta. Later I was delighted to find the museum catalog featured an article on the very subject.

Initially, Margarita, I also had thought the photo might be slightly damaged, but on closer inspection saw that all four faces were exposed to a great deal of sunlight, Marie's and Tatiana's in particular. So what I think we're seeing is Olga looking both shy but pleased, Marie squinting against the sun, Tatiana holding a very deep wink for benefit of the photographer (Anastasia?), and Voronov--being the professional that he was--gamely smiling for the camera, but definitely finding himself in a rather tricky situation!  

[Suzanne]

Futhermore, Ioann was not considered the handsomest of men and with his shy, religious temperment, everyone expected him to become a mink. He had declared that to be his own intention. Therefore, it was a big surprise the whole family when the 25 year old Ioann met Helene of Serbia and proposed soon after they met. Tatiana may have found the idea of Ioann marrying at all to be hilarious because like the rest of his family, she expected him to enter a monastery.

[clockworkgirl21]

For the picture, I just thought Tatiana had one eye closed because the sun was blinding her.

EDIT: I just noticed. Olga seems to be looking at Tatiana like..."Don't you dare..."

[Janet_W.]

Right, Suzanne! I would imagine Ioann was somewhat along the lines of what today we might term a "nerd"--quiet, bookish, and not exactly the most fabulous of physical specimins. But Helene was smart enough to see beyond that.

P.S. I think you meant "monk," not "mink"?!