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Christening of the Crown prince Aleksey, son of russian tsar Nicolas II

oil on canvas 120 x 150 cm (48 x60 in.) 2008
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You see the moment of the christening the Cesarevitch Aleksey [1] (son of Russian tsar Nicolas II) in the church of Saints Peter and Paul (situated in the Peterghof, near the Saint Petersburg) dated the 11 of August, 1904 at the painting. Painting was created in the warm color register in the interior of the Saints Peter and Paul Church. The rite of christening is doing the priest (confessor) Yanishev [2]. He holds the Aleksey. At the first plane there are real persons that took a part at this event. [3] Grand duke Aleksey Alexandrovitch (the cousin of Nicolas II). [4] Empress Maria Theodorovna (the mother of Nicolas II). [5] Kaiser of Germany William II. [6] Princess Maria Golitsina. [7] King of Denmark Christian II. [8] King of England George IV. [9] Also there two small girls near the font. It is a daughters of Nicolas (Aleksey`s sisters) Olga and Tatyana.Also there are 2 priests who took a part in ceremony between them. [10] At the left side there are 3 priests. [11] Nicolas II is in the centre of the church behind the central group. It was forbidden for the parents to be on the christening process but Nicolas was afraid about the son (because the confessor Yanishev was old). That`s why he was in church at this moment. [12] At the background you can see the church’s parish. [13] At the left side of composition at iconostas there is symbolical shadow of Gregory Rasputin. This is a symbol of the future tragedy of tsar`s family. |