Rare large cabinet photograph of Russian Grand Duke Konstantin
Konstantinovich (Constantine Constantinovich, Russian: Константин
Константинович), 1858-1915, signed and dated,
photographer Bergamasco of St. Petersburg
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (14 x 21,8 cm)
$4,500.00
Signed in black ink by the Grand Duke:
Konstantin 1870-1888
Konstantin (Constantine) is wearing the uniform of the elite Izmailovsky regiment of the Imperial Guards, and chain of the Order of St. Andrew, the highest Order of the Russian Empire which members of the Imperial family were getting at birth.
The Grand Duke was a patron of Russian art and an artist in his own right; a talented pianist, poet and play writer. He was Chairman of the Russian Musical Society, and counted Tchaikovsky among his closest friends, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Chief of All Military Colleges.
The Grand Duke and his wife were among the relatively few Romanovs on intimate terms with Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra. He was also a close friend of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth (Ella) and wrote a poem about her expressing his admiration. He was one of the few members of the Imperial Family to go to Moscow to attend the funeral of Elizabeth's husband, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich who was killed by a terrorist's bomb.
The Grand Duke owned the Marble Palace in St Petersburg and the Pavlovsk Palace near the city.
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