Grand Duke Michael of Russia and Countess de Torby 1902 by Lafayette

(RUSSIA), G. DUKE MICHAEL OF & C. TORBY
Neg. No: 3368 A
Neg. Size: 15"x12"
Neg. Date: 11-8-1902

Sitters:

Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovitch of Russia (1861-1929), grandson of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.

Sophia Nicholaievna, Countess de Torby (1868-1927), daughter of Prince Nicholas William of Nassau; m. (morganatically) (1891) H.I.H. Grand Duke Michael Michailovitch of Russia.

Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovitch of Russia (1861-1929), grandson of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, and his morganatic wife, granddaughter of Alexander Pushkin, Sophia Nicholaievna, Countess de Torby (1868-1927) are seen here in the costumes they wore to the coronation of King Edward VII, 9 August 1902.

Having married Sophia against his parents’ wishes, Mikhail was banned from returning to Russia. However the Russian Imperial family continued to finance his lavish grand ducal lifestyle abroad. The Prince and Princess of Pless were close friends with Mikhail and Sophia and the couples often visited each other in their respective residences in Silesia, England and on the French Riviera. The Grand Duke’s infamous temperament and rudeness, for which he “could not be held responsible”, were well documented in the Princess of Pless’s memoirs as well as were Sophia’s patience, charm and sweetness.

In 1913, when Sophia visited Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a newspaper reported: “that she should have brought along 104 gowns is not so astonishing when it is reflected she is generally known as the best dressed woman in royal society.” Her renowned love of jewels is clear from this portrait, where she softens the rigidity of her exquisite gown with small clusters of semi-precious stones attached to the front as well as with copious ropes of pearls, worn unconventionally, and diamond ornaments attached to her corsage. As she moved, almost everything about her, including a diamond choker, diamond and sapphire necklace and diamond kokoshnik tiara, and the exquisite silver bugle and sequin embroidery of her corsage and chiffon train, would have trembled and sparkled in the light. Hidden among her corsage jewels is a King Edward VII Coronation Medal. The Countess, in a nod to her husband’s Russian origin, wears a jewelled hair ornament in the style of a kokoshnik tiara.

Grand Duke Michael, is portrayed in the uniform of a Russian Colonel, even though he was stripped of his rank upon his unequal marriage. He wears a splendid mass of Orders:

Collar, badge (with diamonds), breast star (with diamonds) and sash of the Order of Saint Andrew First Called (Russia); neck badge, the Russian Orthodox Society of Palestine; breast star of an (honorary) Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (partially visible); badge of the Alexander Cadet Corps; badge of the Order of St. Vladimir; badge of the Order of Adolf of Nassau; Russo-Turkey campaign medal; Alexander III Commemorative Medal; and Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal.

After the Russian revolution Mikhail and Sophia had to cut back considerably, but, unlike their many compatriots, they did not experience poverty thanks to their daughters Zia’s and Nada’s prosperous husbands.

Date: 11 August 1902.

Image published in Daisy of Pless: The Happy Years

Image displayed at:

Occasion: The Coronation of King Edward VII, 9 August 1902.

Location: The Lafayette Studio, 179 New Bond Street, London.

Descr: FL.

Costume: -

Costume Supplier: -

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (Grand Duke Michael)

Collar, badge (with diamonds), breast star (with diamonds) and sash of the Order of Saint Andrew First Called (Russia); neck badge, the Russian Orthodox Society of Palestine; breast star of an (honorary) Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (partially visible); badge of the Alexander Cadet Corps (?) & others including the badge of the Order of St. Vladimir, badge of the Order of Adolf of Nassau, Russo-Turkey campaign medal, Alexander III Commemorative Medal and Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal. (Countess de Torby) King Edward VII Coronation Medal 1902.

Jewellery: -

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop.

Photographer: Lafayette Ltd., 179 New Bond Street, London.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of related negatives: 6 [See 3364, 3364A, 3369, 3369B, 3369D] ¹

Copyright: V&A

All images on this site are copyright V&A. For further information on using or requesting copies of any images
please contact the V&A Picture Library: vaimages@vam.ac.uk including the URL of the relevant page

Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

References:

Biog: (Grand Duke Michael) Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd ed., Burke's Royal Families of the World, Vol 1, London, 1977, p. 472a; The Times, 27 April, 1929, p. 17a; The Times, 1 May 1929, p. 15f. (Countess de Torby) Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd ed., Burke's Royal Families of the World, Vol 1, London, 1977, p 241b; The Times, 16 September 1927, p. 13e & 17 September, p. 12a. (See also, The Times, 9 April, 1891, p. 5d; Baroness de Stoeckl, Not all Vanity, London, 1950; Baroness de Stoeckl, My Dear Marquis, London, 1952; David Chavchavadze, The Grand Dukes, New York, 1990; Raleigh Trevelyan, Grand Dukes and Diamonds: The Wernhers of Luton Hoo, London, 1991.)

Occasion: -

Costume: -

Costume Supplier: -

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (Order of St. Andrew First Called) R. Werlich, Russian Orders, Decorations and Medals, Washington, 1981, p. 1. (Royal Victorian Order) Burke's Peerage. (Badge, Alexander Cadet Corps) R. Werlich, op cit, p 72; (Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal & King Edward Coronation Medal) Howard N. Cole, Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals 1887-1977, London, 1977. (Others) Andrew Litherland, Spink's medal department.

Jewellery: -

Reproduced: Julius Bryant, The Iveagh Bequest: Kenwood, English Heritage, 1990, p 67; (Version, Countess Torby only) The Car, 4 February 1902, p 359; Madame, 8 August 1903, p 263; The Lady's Pictorial, 7 March 1903, front page; The Ladies' Field, 14 February 1903, front page; Madame, 6 August, 1904, p 253; A.C. Fox-Davies, ed., Their Majesties' Court 1906, London, 1907, plate 424; The Gentlewoman, 25 April 1914, p 565.

Acknowledgements: -

¹ See also group portrait with entourage: Lafayette Royal Album, Ax 36423, National Portrait Gallery Archives.