Opening of the exhibition "Hessian Princesses in Russian History":
how the legacy of the Hessian-Darmstadt Ducal House united Russia and Germany

On December 19, the Hessian Princesses in Russian History exhibition opens in the Icon Museum in Frankfurt am Main, telling about the centuries-old cultural and historical ties between Russia and Germany. The exposition was prepared with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and brought together more than 300 exhibits related to the life of four Princesses of the Hesse-Darmstadt Ducal House from the largest collections in Russia and Germany. For the first time, Russian viewers and researchers will see many of the items presented.

December 19, at the Icon Museum in Frankfurt am Main, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Alla Manilova, head of the Fund for the Promotion of the Revival of Charity and Charity Elisabeth-Sergius Enlightenment Society Anna Gromova, Russian Consul General in Frankfurt Alexander Bulay, Director of the Museum Icons Richard Zakharuk will solemnly open the Russian-German exhibition project "Hessian Princesses in Russian History", which will for the first time present more than 300 valuable exhibits related to the life and reign of Hesse n Princesses. The exposition was prepared by the Elizabeth-Sergiev Educational Society Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

The exposition is dedicated to the more than two hundred year stay of the Princesses of the Hesse-Darmstadt Ducal House on top of the Russian Imperial House, which played an important role in Russian history. A unique collection of portraits, documents, personal belongings from the collections of the State Hermitage Museum, the State Historical Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Peterhof Museum, the Main Archive of the Russian Federation and other significant cultural institutions of Russia will tell about the life of the Grand Duchess Natalia Alekseevna (wife of Tsesarevich Pavel Petrovich, future Emperor Of Paul I), Empress Maria Alexandrovna (wife of Emperor Alexander II), Empress Alexandra Fedorovna (wife of Emperor Nicholas II) and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fedoro vny (wife of Grand Duke Sergiy Alexandrovich).

For the first time, objects from the collection of the Hessian House fund that are not familiar to Russian viewers and researchers will be presented at the same site with exhibits from Russian museums. The princesses did not break off ties with their homeland and, together with their spouses, made generous gifts to the temples and castles of the Hessian land. Some of these items have been preserved in the church of St. Mary Magdalene in Darmstadt, built by the Royal family, and will now also be included in the exhibition.

The most important element of the exhibition is the gallery of ceremonial portraits of the Hessian Princesses and their spouses by such outstanding artists as P.E. Falcone, V.A. Serov, F.A. von Kaulbach, M. Zichy, M. Nesterov, E.K. Lipgart, I.N. Kramskoy, T. Neff. Portraits of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Fedorovna, symbolizing the final point of the monarchical history of Russia, close the gallery.

The exhibition’s opening ceremony will be preceded by the Hessian Princesses in Russian History scientific and educational conference, which will be attended by Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Alla Manilova, Landgraf of Hessian Henryk Donatus Philip Umberto, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Elizabethan-Sergius Enlightenment Society Charity and Charity Promotion Fund Anna Gromova, Russian and German historians, archivists, cultural figures.

The exhibition "Hessian Princesses in Russian History" will be held from December 19, 2017 to February 26, 2018. A catalog of the same name will be prepared for the opening of the exhibition.