Original photo of czar Nicholas II, Alexandra Feodorovna and members of the Imperial family, taken by photographer L.Gorodetsky at the Ropsha palace in July-August 1899, laid on a cardboard, 7 1/4 x 6 1/2 in. (16,7 x 18,5 cm). The photographer’s name is incused in the lower right corner, the back is marked with a retailer’s stamp “Paintings & Paints – Joseph Fietta, St Petersburg – Grand Morskaya # 36”.

On June 28, 1899, younger brother of Nicholas II, the Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich died. The photograph was taken a month later (around July 31), ladies are still wearing mourning dresses, and man – black sleeve ribbons.

Nicholas II, the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (her husband the Grand Duke Vladimir is standing next to the empress Alexandra), her daughter – the Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

The Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (1847-1909), son of Alexander II and an uncle of Nicholas II, behind him – the Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich (son of Alexander II, killed in 1919) and the Grand Duke Peter Nicholaevich.

The Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich (well known poet of the period, signed his poems ‘K.R’) – in the center, next to him (to the right) – the Grand Duke Sergei Michaelovich (commander of the Russian artillery in World War I, killed in 1918) and the Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich (?? I’m not 100% sure that it is he), killed in 1919.

Small piece of the upper left corner is missing, a couple minor stains.