Olga's named day picture of " David"

[Yoyo22]

I am at work and do not have access tp my books to check who came out with the "statute theory" but I'll do it once I get home.

Thinking about it, I think you're right: the Duke of Windsor makes more sense. Considering that the GD's did have photos of nude men in their private albums, I do not think it was such a big deal to see a nude work of art. On the other hand it would have been inconceivable for the officers to make "nude" jokes with the daughters of the emperor.

[Romanov_fan]

Indeed, it was most likely the Duke of Windsor, and that it was gentle teasing about a suitor rather than anything else.

[LarissaAnn]

I DEARLY hope this doesn't spark a huge debate over something so trivial (because arguing over the question statue or person is quite silly) but I was just curious would officers be that intimate with the royal family to know which suitors N&A were considering for their daughters?

[Romanov_fan]

I think it was generallly known who was considered as a royal suitor. It would have been talked about all over Europe, and speculated about, actually. I think in America, this kind of speculation was more rampant than it was in Russia. But I think things like this were generally known, if not on a personal basis. Royal marriages were many times business affairs as well as personal. I don't believe, though, that Olga would have been forced into an arranged marriage, without any personal affection. Nicholas and Alexandra woudn't have done that.

[Grace]

Plus, I believe the men of the family went skinny-dipping regularly, and there were photos of this found in the girls' albums.  (Alexei, their father, etc).

I'm guessing nudity, especially in art, probably wasn't THAT big of a deal.

You're quite right. There are at least 3 photos of the tsar bathing nude in print, and one of Aleksei, too.

Nudity, at least among men, was not viewed as shameful in imperial Russia.

No, not while bathing anyway.  But I'm sure this wouldn't have occurred around the presence of women or girls, all the same. 

I don't think the photos in the albums showed any frontal nudity, though. 

[Romanov_fan]

Not that I recall.I am not sure where this bathing would have taken place either, although it was acceptable.

[blessOTMA]

In the Wiki bio of Tatiana its reported that  A group of officers aboard the imperial yacht gave her older sister Olga a portrait of Michelangelo's nude David, cut out from a newspaper, as a present for her name day on 11 July 1911. "Olga laughed at it long and hard," the indignant fourteen-year-old Tatiana wrote to her aunt Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia. "And not one of the officers wishes to confess that he has done it. Such swine, aren't they?

Then I have read elsewhere it was a photo of the Prince of Wales, the future Duck of Windsor, whom the  family called " David"

I'm leaning towards the latter explanation as the  far more likely one to be correct! It seems more likely the officers would flirt like mad and then , as a joke, offer a likely suitor. Would a paper at that time even publish the nude  David? I will say in 1911 it was far more likely to see the rock star Prince of Wales  in the newspapers than Michelangelo's statue And it also seems to me Tatiana was amused too... the " swine"  part being no one would admit to it. It was written to "sweetheart Aunt" Olga Alexandrovna, who would enjoy such a joke and I believe understand it to mean David, the Prince of Wales.

Sorry if this was thrashed out before. It's in Wiki and therefore of import.....and there is a saying : " a falsehood will run around the world before the truth has time to put on its shoes"

[blessOTMA]

Then I have read elsewhere it was a photo of the Prince of Wales, the future Duck of Windsor, whom the  family called " David"

okay,  I made myself laugh.... the future Duck of Windsor....lol!

[abbigail]

That's a funny story...I'm also surprised the picture was published.

"Then I have read elsewhere it was a photo of the Prince of Wales, the future Duck of Windsor"
I started laughing when I read this!

[Holly]

Would a paper at that time even publish the nude David?

Well, a famous work of art isn't really vulgar so I don't see why not.

[blessOTMA]

Would a paper at that time even publish the nude David?

Well, a famous work of art isn't really vulgar so I don't see why not.

Lots of funny restrictions on media back then...even if the statue was reproduced, they often put a fig leaf on it! lol! Also 1911 was a big year for the future Duke of Windsor. He became the Prince of Wales that very  month and would be, I imagine ,  appearing in newspapers a good deal at this time. Also Tatiana is writing to another family member , her Aunt X. A. ,who would also call the prince"  David" herself and know who Tatiana meant by that name . But lord knows

[blessOTMA]

.... Also Tatiana is writing to another family member , her Aunt X. A. ,who would also call the prince"  David" herself and know who Tatiana meant by that name . But lord knows 

Oops. Excuse me, Tatiana was writing  to her aunt, Olga Alexandrovna