Lot 96

Lot 96

Enchanting silver print of the famous Maria Feodorovna, Princess Dagmar of Denmark, with her family. She is posed with her sisters, Princess Thyra of Denmark and Alexandra of Denmark, Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India from  January 22, 1901 to  May 6, 1910 as the wife of Edward VII, and finally, their father Christian IX, King of Denmark from November 15, 1863 until his death in 1906. While obviously a long and impressive history Maria Feodorovna was Empress of Russia from 1881 to 1894 as the wife of Emperor Alexander III. She was the fourth child and second daughter of Christian IX of Denmark and Louise of Hesse-Kassel. Maria’s eldest son, Nicholas, was the last Emperor of Russia, ruling from November 1, 1894 until his abdication on March 15, 1917. Maria lived for 10 years after Bolshevik functionaries killed Nicholas and his immediate family in 1918. The rest of her family’s history is well known with research that we will not include here but is widely available.

This impressive image was captured in 1903 at Frederiksborg Castle, a palatial complex in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century, replacing an older castle acquired by Frederick II and becoming the largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia. We don’t recognize the painting above but if someone does we would love to know. A photo in the larger heart matted frame is King Christian’s wife, Louise of Hesse-Kassel who died in 1898.
This important silver print is in lovely condition with strong tones and contrast. There is a hint of wear as seen. With the mount it measures 8 ¾” x 10 ¾.” The image was captured by the famous Danish photographer, Mary Steen. Mary Dorothea Frederica Steen, (October 28, 1856 –April 7, 1939), was a Danish photographer and feminist. In 1884 at the age of 28, she opened a studio in Copenhagen where she specialized in indoor photography. At the 1888 Nordic Exhibition she won a silver medal for her photographs of both royalty and ordinary citizens in their homes, and she also exhibited at the 1893 World Exhibition in Chicago. She was Denmark’s first female court photographer. In 1888, she became the first female court photographer for Princess Alexandra who was to marry Great Britain’s Edward VII. Later Princess Alexandra invited her to London where she photographed members of the royal family, including Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. Because of growing deafness she closed her studio in 1918. For information with a number of Steen’s works please see, https://monovisions.com/biography-19th-century-photographer-mary-steen/.