History of Russia: Exhibition “Russian Empresses: Fashion and Style. The end of the XVIII – early XX century” in Moscow

April 3, 2013 in the exhibition hall of Federal Archives (Moscow) opens the historical-art documentary exhibition “Russian Empresses: Fashion and Style. The end of the XVIII – early XX century”. 

To the 400^th anniversary of the House of Romanov, the organizers of the exhibition have prepared an unusual exposition, which reveals two fascinating topics: the fashion and the style of Russian Empresses. The subject of the exposition has become the limited with palace apartments life of seven Russian Empresses (end of the XVIII – early XX century) – wives and mothers of Russian emperors.

Empresses, as all the women, liked to dress up, followed the fashion, and sometimes became its trendsetters. Their dresses, accessories, jewelry amazed with their elegance and luxury and were part of the image of the Russian state.

The exhibition is organized by the Federal Archive Agency, the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the State Hermitage Museum with participation of the State Historical Museum, the State Museum-Reserve “Gatchina”, the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, the Russian State Historical Archive, the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, private collection (Denmark).

Thank to the support of the Royal Embassy of Denmark in Moscow, the Russian audience will be able to see things that belonged to the Empress Maria Feodorovna and her husband Emperor Alexander III, now stored in the private collection in Denmark. These are two unique documents: “The list of personal things of the Empress Maria Feodorovna, being in custody at the Gatchina Palace” and “The inventory of jewelry and other items, belonged to Empress Maria Feodorovna” – both in 1917; four suspensions of jasper, amethyst, jade and rhodonite with ornaments of gold and silver; silver stack of Emperor Alexander III, photos and unopened envelope with the last letter of Maria Feodorovna to her son George in Abastumani. The letter came after the death of George, and was returned to the sender.

The decoration of the exhibition will include dresses from the collection of the State Hermitage Museum and the Museum-Reserve “Gatchina”, painting, engraving, porcelain and jewelry, diaries, letters, drawings, photographs and books.