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Russia: Royalty and the Romanovs

02 December 2018, Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace

By Ana R-SandiaPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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Unknown Photographer, The Royal Gathering at Osborne, 1909, Halridge Auctioneers

I have alway been fascinated by Russia: the history, the architecture, the influence, the Revolution. The country has been severely repressed for centuries. First by the gigantic gap imposed by the monarchy led by the Romanovs. Then by the tyrannic rule of Communism, which was meant to loosen the grip of rulers to promote equality and freedom. Although the base of communism is to support the working class, it has been transformed by brutal rulers to impose their new set of ideologies that continue to control freedom in the country.

For centuries, England has held powerful alliances with the world's most powerful nations. One such country is Russia, though their relations were not always strong enough to hold against revolution and the power struggles caused by war. Russia and England's first ties go back to 1553, under Mary I and Ivan the Terrible, who established the Muscovy Company which controlled trade between both countries. It was broken off upon the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the end of the monarchy. These were just the first of a series of events that have led to the forging and breaking of these alliances, most notably the murder of the last member of the Romanov dynasty, Tsar Nicholas II, in 1918 by the Bolshevik Party.

The photograph above was taken in 1909 during Tsar Nicholas II's holiday trip to England with his family. He is pictured on the centre left with a white and navy cap. To his left sits King Edward VII of England and his cousin, the future King George V. The patriarchs of the family at the centre, dashing in their dark jackets, stand out against the white dresses of their wives and daughters, standing regal and elegant by their side, like bees among daisies. The children are adoringly dressed in crisp suits and pristine white gowns, quietly composed... looking miserable and bored. Bar the fashion of the sitters, this is a most typical family portrait across all centuries and countries.

This visit was one of many that resulted from years of both political and personal relationships between England and Russia. This history is represented beautifully in Russia: Royalty and the Romanovs, at the Queen's Galleries of Buckingham Palace. There are thousands of pieces of significance in the galleries, varying from luxury vases, collections of medals including the Order of Saint Catherine and the Order of the Garter. However, I have concentrated on the paintings and the importance of the figures in the broader context of their histories.

Middle Hall

Following the "Emerald Room" there is a break in between with a small, rectangular hall that features a collection of letters and personal items. However, the most significant piece is The Roll Call, from 1874. It portrays the remaining men of the Grenadier guards of England after the Battle of Inkerman, during the Crimean War. The soldiers are wearing the winter uniforms, still used by the Grenadier Guards today. You can actually still see them today posted outside the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.

The Crimean War represents a period of poor relations between England and Russia. It was a military conflict between 1853 and 1856 in which Russia lost its alliance to Britain as well as the Ottoman Empire, France, and Sardinia. The immediate consequence was the division and tensions between all the religions in each country and its supporters. Russia was devastated by the lack of discipline and man power of its army and tensions with Britain were enormous.

Crimea's geographical location was, and continues to be, an essential entry route to the Orient and vice-versa and countries were consistently at odds with each other for its control. It is a gateway to the mediterranean for Russia and for Europe it is a gateway to the West. Under Catherine II, it was annexed from the Ottoman Empire in 1783. A century later, during the Russian Revolution, it became a fighting ground between the Red and White Armies until it fell completely under control of Soviet Union. In 1954, it was transferred to the Ukraine. Finally, in 2014, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Annexed Crimea from the Ukraine.

The artist, Elizabeth Southerden Thomas, known as Lady Butler, was one of the few women artists of this period and, more importantly, a military artist. She was the wife of Lieutenant General Sir William Butler. She was a huge success, despite being a woman, and painted most of the important events during the 19th century. The Roll Call was produced 20 years after the event it depicts and it marked the beginning of a series of military paintings. After this, she gained special fame through her works depicting World War I.

The composition has an unconventional, horizontal perspective, with a mounted soldier on a horse at the far right of the canvas. It is an extremely unique depiction of war as a painting as oppose to the more conventional forms of representation through prints and photography. Butler submitted it for display in 1874 to the Royal Academy. It was bought by Queen Victoria and used during Alexander II's visit to England in this same year as a statement of the her concern for the challenges that had risen in the past due to alliances between their countries. His daughter, Maria Alexandrovna, and Queen Victoria's son, Alfred, were to be married that same year.

Second Gallery: "The Ruby Room"

The Roll Call provides a transition in the exhibition between the powerful members of the court in the Emerald Room and the more personal events surrounding the connections between England and Russia. There were two marriages in the history of the Russian and British Empires that became defining between both countries. The first was the marriage Maria Alexandrovna and Prince Alfred in 1874. A portrait of Maria Alexandrovna joined a group of paintings of Victoria's daughters in law in the Oak Room of Windsor. It was a gift of Marie's father, Alexander II, and shows the Queen's symbolic welcoming of a new daughter in law in to her growing family.

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About the Creator

Ana R-Sandia

A graduate in art history, I have spent the last few years working on my writing project to combine my passions together; history and travel.

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