H.I.H OLGA ALEXANDROVNA

(Russian, 1882-1960)

FLOWERS ON A WINDOW SILL

Watercolor on Laid Paper

8½ x 13 Inches

Signed Lower Right "Olga"

 Provenance: Formerly in the collection of King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark at Sorgenfri Castle;

thence by direct descent to their eldest grand-daughter, H.H. Princess Elizabeth.

 

A charming and period botanical watercolor of pansies and blue daisies, painted in the sitting-room of Grand Duchess Olga's country home at Knudsminde Farm where she lived from 1930-1948.

 

Daughter of Emperor Alexander III and sister to Tsar Nicholas II, Olga Alexandrovna overcame both privilege and tragedy to become an accomplished artist who exhibited with success worldwide. The recipient of numerous prizes and awards, Olga donated much of the proceeds of her sales to charity, preferring to give her work as gifts to close friends and to members of her extended family. Her cousin, the late Queen Elizabeth II, began her day with nine of Olga's paintings hanging in the breakfast-room at Sandringham.