Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia. Portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter,1857, Hermitage Museum

Maria Nikolaievna (Russian: Мария Николаевна) (August 18, 1819 - February 21, 1876) was a daughter of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia and sister of Alexander II. She was Duchess of Leuchtenberg and President of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 432 × 575 pixelsFull resolution (432 × 575 pixel, file size: 94 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna of Russia,Duchess of Leuchtenber, 1857 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 432 × 575 pixelsFull resolution (432 × 575 pixel, file size: 94 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna of Russia,Duchess of Leuchtenber, 1857 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this... The Empress Eugenie Surrounded by her Ladies in Waiting Franz Winterhalter was a famous Victorian, German speaking artist. ... The State Hermitage Museum (Russian: ) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest and oldest art galleries and museums of human history and culture in the world. ... August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Nicholas I (Russian: Николай I Павлович, Nikolai I Pavlovich), July 6 (June 25, Old Style), 1796–March 2 (18 February Old Style), 1855), was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. ... Alexander (Aleksandr) II Nikolaevich (Russian: Александр II Николаевич) (born 29 April 1818 in Moscow; died 13 March 1881 in St. ... The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Spain and France (in Italy, principe... Leuchtenberg is a town in the district of Neustadt (Waldnaab) in Bavaria in Germany. ... The edifice for the academy was built in 1764-89 to a design by Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe and Alexander F. Kokorinov. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

Duchess of Leuchtenberg

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna was born on August 18, 1819 in Pavlovsk. She was the second of seven children and the eldest daughter. Her parents, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, born Princess Charlotte of Prussia, were devoted to each other and to their children, providing an excellent education for them. August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Pavlovsk (Russian: Павловск) is a town situated in the Leningrad oblast, Russia, 30 km from St. ... Nicholas I (Russian: Николай I Павлович, Nikolai I Pavlovich), July 6 (June 25, Old Style), 1796–March 2 (18 February Old Style), 1855), was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. ... Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Palace of Peterhoff Alexandra Feodorovna, born Charlotte, Princess of Prusia, July 13, 1798 - November 1, 1860) was Empress consort of Russia . ...

Unusually for her position and time, she married for love. She met her future husband, Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg, the eldest surviving son of Eugène de Beauharnais and grandson of Empress Josephine, when he came to Saint Petersburg during cavalry maneuvers in 1837. A year later he made a second visit to the city, as noted by the Grand Duchess Olga in her diary: “In four days it has become quite clear that Max and Maria were made for each other."^[1] Maximilian Joseph Eugene Auguste Napoleon de Beauharnais (2 October 1817 Munich - 1 November 1852 St. ... Eugène Rose de Beauharnais (September 3, 1781 - February 21, 1824) was the first child and only son of Joséphine de Tascher de la Pagerie and Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais. ... Joséphine de Beauharnais, Empress Joséphine Joséphine de Beauharnais (June 23, 1763 - May 29, 1814) was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and became Empress of France. ... French Republican Guard - May 8, 2005 celebrations Cavalry (from French cavalerie) were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. ... Grand Duchess Olga of Russia (September 11, 1822 – October 30, 1892), later Queen Olga of Württemberg, was a member of the Russian Imperial Family who became the Queen consort of Württemberg. ...

It was not a desirable match for a daughter of a Russian Emperor. Maximilian was below the rank of royalty, only entitled to the style of Serene Highness as member of a secondary branch of the House of Bavaria. He was also Roman Catholic, not Orthodox, and his own family, his mother Princess Augusta of Bavaria in particular, was against this marriage. Anthem God Save the Tsar! The Russian Empire in 1914 Capital Moscow Language(s) Russian Religion Russian Orthodoxy Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1721–1725 Peter the Great  - 1894–1917 Nicholas II History  - Accession of Peter I May 7, 1682 NS, April 27, 1682 OS²  - Empire proclaimed October 22, 1721 NS, October... It has been suggested that Bavaria#Historical_Buildings be merged into this article or section. ...

Furthermore the Bonaparte family had been bitter enemies of Russia. Nevertheless the Tsar granted his permission for the marriage on condition that his daughter did not leave Russia to live abroad. Since the Duke of Leuchtenberg was not a member of a reigning family, it was easy for him to take up residence in Saint Petersburg. Of Italian origin, the Bonaparte (originally Buonaparte) family is the family of the Corsican Napoleon I, who was elected as first consul of France on November 10, 1799 with the help of his brother, Lucien Bonaparte, president of the Council of Five Hundred at Saint-Cloud. ...

The wedding took place on July 2, 1839 in the chapel of the Winter Palace. The Tsar created Maximilian an Imperial Highness. The couple remained in Russia, where their seven children grew up in the circle of the imperial family. is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Located between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, the Winter Palace (Russian: Зимний Дворец) in Saint Petersburg, Russia was built between 1754 and 1762 as the winter residence of the Russian tsars. ...

President of the Academy of Arts

On her engagement Tsar Nicholas I decided to present Maria with her own palace. He chose a site in the centre of St. Petersburg strategically positioned opposite St. Isaac's cathedral, on the banks of the Moika river.^[2] No expense was spared in fitting it out for the young couple, specially comissioned from the architec Andrei Stackensneider and, close enough to the Winter Palace for the Tsar to pay daily visits to his daughter.^[3]. The palace was finished by the end of 1844 and was named as the Mariinsky Palace, after Maria Nikolaievna. Up utill this point, Maria, her husband and three children had lived lived in the Vorontzov Palace, waiting for the completion of their own residence.^[4]. Located between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, the Winter Palace (Russian: Зимний Дворец) in Saint Petersburg, Russia was built between 1754 and 1762 as the winter residence of the Russian tsars. ... The façade of the Mariinsky Palace is executed in a local reddish-brown sandstone. ...

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna and her husband had artistic inclinations and were active in charitable and artistic causes. Maria's husband became well-known as a scientist throught Russia.^[5]. In 1843 he was appointed President of the Academy of Arts. The Grand Duchess was an avid art collector, and after the death of her husband in 1852, she replaced him as President of the Academy of Arts. From then on, Maria Nikolaievana devoted herself to her collection even with greater ardor ^[6].

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 388 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (388 × 600 pixel, file size: 43 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, Duchess of Leuchtenberg, photograph The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 388 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (388 × 600 pixel, file size: 43 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, Duchess of Leuchtenberg, photograph The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United...

Second marriage

Maria Nikolaievna made a second marriage in 1854, to Count Grigori Stroganov (1823 – 1878). It was a morganatic union and was kept secret while her father lived. Officially the marriage did not take place until November 16, 1856, after Nicholas I's death. Her sister Olga described her as more talented than all her brothers and sisters put together, but lacking a sense of duty. Stroganovs or Strogonovs (Строгановы, Строгоновы in Russian), also spelled in French manner as Stroganoffs, was a family of highly successful Russian merchants, industrialists, landowners, and statesmen of the 16th - 20th centuries that eventually earned nobility. ... A morganatic marriage is a type of marriage which can be contracted in certain countries, usually between persons of unequal social rank (unebenbürtig in German), which prevents the passage of the husbands titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage. ... November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1862, Maria Nikolaievna installed herself in Florence in the Villa Quarto, which had belonged to Jerome Bonaparte, and appointed the painter and collector Karl Liphard as her advisor. They went almost daily to visit museums, private collection and antique dealers.^[7]. In Italy, the Grand Duchess was zealous in her purchases of painting, sculptures and furniture for the complete refurbishing of her residence.^[8] Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Jérôme Bonaparte (November 15, 1784 - June 24, 1860) was the youngest brother of Emperor Napoleon I of France. ...

Duchess Maria probably suffered either from varicose veins or from some sort of bone disease, and by the end of her life she had become an invalid.^[9] She died on February 21, 1876 in Saint Petersburg at age 56. February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

Art collections

On her death in 1876, Maria Nikolaievna's art collections were divided among her surviving children: Prince Nicholas of Leuchtenberg, his brothers Eugene and George, their sisters Princess Maria of Baden and Princess Eugenia of Oldenburg and their half-sister countess Elena Strogonova. In 1884, her son, Nicholas Duke of Leuchtenberg, mounted an exhibition at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts with the Grand Duchess former collection. In 1913 another exhibitions was organized at the Hermitage Museum entitled the Heritage of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna. After the revolution the collection was dispersed and now can be enjoyed in museums in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Vienna and the United States ^[10]. Three of Maria's sons by the Duke of Leuchtenberg lived in her former residence the Mariinsky Palace until 1884, when it was sold to the treasury to pay for the family's mounting debts ^[11]. Today the Palace house the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly. Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The State Hermitage Museum (Russian: ) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest and oldest art galleries and museums of human history and culture in the world. ... Position of Moscow in Europe Coordinates: , Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Government  - Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Area  - City 1,081 km²  (417. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... “Wien” redirects here. ... The façade of the Mariinsky Palace is executed in a local reddish-brown sandstone. ... The building of the Assembly, Mariinsky Palace The Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly (Russian: ) is the legislative power body of Saint Petersburg, Federal subject of Russia, which has existed since 1994 and succeeded the Leningrad Council of People Deputies (Lensovet). ...

Children

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna had seven children form her marriage to the Duke of Leuchtenbergt:

• Alexandra Princess Romanovskaja (1840-1843) died in childhood
• Maria Maximilianovna, of Leuchtenberg (1841-1914) m. William of Baden (1829-1897), younger son of Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden
• Nicholas Maximilianovich, 4th Duke of Leuchtenberg (1843-1891)
• Eugenia Maximilianovna, Princess Romanovskaja (1845-1925) m. Alexander of Oldenburg (1844-1932)
• Eugen Maximilianovich, 5th Duke of Leuchtenberg (1847-1901) m. Daria Opotchinina (1845-1870) m. Zinaida Skobeleva(1878-1899)
• Sergei Maximilianovich, Duke of Leuchtenberg (1849-1877) Killed in the Russo-Turkish war
• George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg (1852-1912) m.(1) Theresa of Oldenburg (1852-1883) m.(2) Anastasia of Montenegro (1868-1935)

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna had two Children in her second marriage: Leopold I, Grand Duke of Baden (29 August 1790 –24 April 1852) succeeded in 1830 as the fourth Grand Duke of Baden. ... Princess Anastasia Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro was the daughter of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro and his wife, Milena Vukotić. Anastasia was married to Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolayevich Romanov of Russia. ...

• Grigori Grigorievich, Count Stroganov (b. May 9, 1857) died in childhood
• Elena Grigorievna, Countess Stroganova (1861-1908) m. Grigori Nikitich Milashevich (1861-1908)

is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Notes

Bibliography

• Belyakova, Zoia, The Romanov Legacy, The Palaces of St Petersburg, Studio, ISBN 0-670-86339-4
• Neverov, Oleg, Great Private Collections of Imperial Russia, Vendome Press, ISBN 0-86565-225-2