#Princess Zenaida Yousupova

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The young Yousupov couple (Irina and Felix) and some of their in-laws.

group photo. Prince Felix, Princess Irina, Princess Zenaida, Grand Duchess Xenia, Grand Duchess Maria, and Prince Felix Senior

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The Romanov Imperial Court: Two of the most beautiful women of their time

Zenaida Yusupov, was the sole heir of one of the wealthiest princely families in Russia and a legendary beauty (also the mother of Felix Yusupov, who married the only niece of Tsar Nicholas II, Irina Alexandrovna; Felix was also the man who killed Rasputin.) Here Zenaida, who had prematurely white hair, is already a mature beauty. Next to her is the no less beautiful friend, Princess Elizabeth of Hesse and By Rhine, sister of Empress Alexandra, who became a Russian Grand Duchess (Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna) through marriage to Grand Duke Serge Alexandrovich, a younger brother of Alexander III; after his death, Elizabeth became a nun and eventually a saint and martyr.

These women were not only physically beautiful but they had beautiful and generous souls as well. And amazingly, they did not ware makeup...that would come one or two generations later.

Zenaida Yousupova, very young, wearing Russian court dress. The color of her attire (crimson) and the blue bow on the right with the initial "M" in diamonds indicate that she was a "Maid of Honor" or "Freylina" (for "Fraulein") to the Tzarina, Maria Feodorovna.

Grand Duchess Elizabeta Feodorovna, dressed in Russian court dress and "dripping" with emeralds. Grand Duchesses could choose the color of their court dress. There was all manner of requirements for the complex embroidery on these very expensive gowns. It took six months to finish one of them.

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I love Serov and have posted some of his work before, but I see his name and get "triggered," so to speak. Below are two wonderful portraits by him....one of the beautiful Princess Zenaida Yousupova and one of her son, Prince Felix Yousupov.

Valentin Serov paints a portrait of Isaac Levitan in his house-workshop, where many famous paintings of the artist were created— "Evening. Golden Reach", "After the Rain. Reach"