Author Topic: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life  (Read 285804 times)

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Offline LisaDavidson

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #30 on: December 05, 2004, 01:40:24 PM »
Louise, with respect, this is not entirely the case. It's true that Natalia was never received at court. However, MF met Natasha several times, and, after the Revolution, was quite impressed with her and delighted with their son George. She and Michael remained devoted to one another the rest of their lives.

Johnny

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #31 on: December 05, 2004, 02:10:06 PM »
There is even a picture of Natalia, Alix, Nicky and Mikhail on Shtandart. Natalia and Alix are sitting face to face, with Alix's back to the camera and Mikhail and Nicky are just being silly, pulling themselves up on poles. I am not sure whether the picture was taken before or after their wedding!

Offline Tsaritsa

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #32 on: December 05, 2004, 02:37:39 PM »
Quote
There is even a picture of Natalia, Alix, Nicky and Mikhail on Shtandart. Natalia and Alix are sitting face to face, with Alix's back to the camera and Mikhail and Nicky are just being silly, pulling themselves up on poles. I am not sure whether the picture was taken before or after their wedding!

 
That pic is not of Natasha.  Nicholas, Alexandra, Misha, and an unknown woman.  I am sure Alexandra would never have recieved Natasha.  
"Somehow it's always easier to talk brave than be brave."  Hannibal Heyes

PrinceEddy1864

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #33 on: December 05, 2004, 02:44:07 PM »
Does anyone have a copy of this said picture, I am not sure if I have ever seen it. Why would it have been Natalia.

Offline Angie_H

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #34 on: December 05, 2004, 04:33:17 PM »
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There is even a picture of Natalia, Alix, Nicky and Mikhail on Shtandart. Natalia and Alix are sitting face to face, with Alix's back to the camera and Mikhail and Nicky are just being silly, pulling themselves up on poles. I am not sure whether the picture was taken before or after their wedding!

Alexandra NEVER received Natasha, and MF met Natasha twice at the most

Johnny

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #35 on: December 05, 2004, 08:59:42 PM »
The picture is in the Russian version of Radzinsky's "The Last Tsar" which was published in Russia uner the title of "Nikolay II". The people in the picture are identified as N&A with Michael and Countess Brasova, which I believe is Natalia's name. Unfortunately I do not have a scanner to post this picture. If she is missidentified then it's not my fault, but you know whose?!

Louise

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #36 on: December 05, 2004, 09:35:48 PM »
Lisa, thanks for the new  information on Natalie and Marie.  :)

Louise
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM by Louise »

Offline LisaDavidson

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #37 on: December 05, 2004, 09:36:44 PM »
I have the English translation of Radzinsky's "The Last Tsar". The photo in question is captioned, "Nicholas, Alexandra, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and his future wife Countess Natalia Sheremietevskaya frolicking on the deck of the Standart".

Yes, Johnny, the fault in this misidentification is primarily Radzinsky's. However, now that it has been shown to you that clearly the man does not know what he is talking about, it will become your fault as far as I am concerned if you continue to quote him as though he does. Capice?

For the record, neither Nicholas nor Alexandra ever met Natalia. As has been pointed out, she was never received at court. In the photo in question, I am quite sure the chap on the left is Nicky and the one on the right, Misha. I am not sure of the identity of either of the women in the photo. However, it is possible that Alexandra F. is one - but not that Natalia is another.

When Natalia was a Sheremetevsky, she was a middle class Russian girl who never met any member of the iF. She was then Madame Mamontov and after that Madame Wulfurt. After that, she was known as "Countess Brassova". She was never to my knowledge known as "Countess Natalia Sheremetevskaya", except in the mind of Mr. Radzinsky.

Offline Teddy

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #38 on: December 06, 2004, 04:38:55 AM »
I have seen the picture were we are talking about in "The flight of the Romanovs", by John Curtis and Constantine Pleshakov.

Maybe it is Natasha maybe not. I can not see if it is her. Her face is a little bit in the shadow. So I can't say for sure if the lady is the Countness or not.

If it is Natasha. Then this picture is made in a time that nobody had a clue what kind of relationship she has with the Grand Duke Michael. If it is her she is introduced as a friend of Michael.

But my question is: if it is not Natalie who is it? Is it a court-member, a lady in waiting/maid of honour? And is it a court member don't we must regonize a sort of medaillon on her skirt/clothes as sign who the lady is serving?

It must be a close friend to Michael or Alix or a family member who we don't regonize. Because were servants or ladies of the court or members of noble family's  aloud to be so near the Tsar and Tsarina when they have a private conversation with an another Grand Duke?

jackie3

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #39 on: December 06, 2004, 06:15:49 AM »
Michael looks somewhat like a thinner version of his father in that photo with the beard. It makes him actually look more "mature" (if you know what I mean).

I feel somewhat sorry for Countess Brassova for how she ended up (no one should have to end up like that) especially with her son George dying tragically so young. But I've read other things that suggest that she (and to a lesser extent Michael) conspired against N&A and her salons were a meeting-ground of dissent. I forgot where I read that (it may have even been here on these boards! )

Jane

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #40 on: December 06, 2004, 11:29:17 AM »
Quote
Maybe it is Natasha maybe not. I can not see if it is her. Her face is a little bit in the shadow. So I can't say for sure if the lady is the Countness or not.

If it is Natasha. Then this picture is made in a time that nobody had a clue what kind of relationship she has with the Grand Duke Michael. If it is her she is introduced as a friend of Michael.


It is definitely not Nathalie Wulfert in that picture--as Lisa has pointed out, Nicholas and Alexandra never met Nathalie.  There is no way Alexandra Fedorovna would have ever received her even before she got involved with Michael Alexandrovich, because Nathalie was a woman around whom there was a whiff of scandal--she was a divorcee (and would be again).  



olga

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #41 on: December 06, 2004, 08:51:47 PM »
Are there any portrait-style photos or something where we can see Natalya Sergeevna's face more clearly?

Offline grandduchessella

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #42 on: December 06, 2004, 11:33:51 PM »
This is the best I could do:




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Offline Angie_H

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #43 on: December 07, 2004, 05:41:38 AM »
July 1910

Sarai_Porretta

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Re: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovitch, his family and life
« Reply #44 on: December 07, 2004, 07:52:28 AM »
She was 8 months pregnant with their son in that last picture (July 1910).