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

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oil on canvas 120 x 150 cm (48 x60 in.) 2008

Christening of Cesarevitch Aleksey [1] (son of Russian tsar Nicolas II)in the Church of Saint Peter and Paul (of Peterghof, near SaintPetersburg) on 11th August, 1904. The Painting reflects the warm colours of the Church interior. The christening is performed by the priest (confessor) Yanishev. [2]. He holds Aleksey.  At the forefront appear actual personalities present at the event: [3] The Grand duke Aleksey Alexandrovitch, who was the cousin of Nicolas II . [4]  The Empress Maria Theodorovna, the mother of Nicolas II .  [5] The German Kaiser William II. [6] Princess Maria Golitsina. [7] The King of Denmark, Christian II. [8] The King of England, George IV. [9]  The two small girls are thedaughters of Nicolas (Aleksey`s sisters), Olga and Tatyana.  Present are also two other priests assisting the ceremony.   [10] To the left appear three priests. [11]   Nicolas II stands at the centre, slightly aside from the main group.   Parents were not to take part in the christening process,but attending Nicolas had been concerned about the unsteady hands of the elderly confessor Yanishev, when handling his son).. [12] The church 8217parishioners. [13] Towards the left rises a shadow of Gregory Rasputin, as a symbol of the tragedy waiting to befall the Tsar and his family.

 

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