Photo by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich

The original photo is in excellent collector's condition. A gelatin print. Portrait cabinet. The photo shows Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich– the brother of Emperor Alexander III. The photo was taken in the studio of the elite metropolitan photographer Carl Bergamasco. Guarantee of authenticity. Provenance – from the archive of Colonel L-Guard. V. Svechin's Preobrazhensky Regiment (1871-1944).

Karla Ivanovich Bergamasco (ital. Carlo Bergamasco; 1830, Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia — May 1896, St. Petersburg), who arrived from Italy to St. Petersburg in 1848, where, working as a chorister, he became seriously interested in photography, which was just becoming fashionable in Russia. Having mastered the basics of this unusual craft, Karl quite consciously made plans to make photography his life's work and a means to a comfortable existence. In 1850, while still serving in the theater, Bergamasco opened one of the first "daguerreotype establishments" in St. Petersburg, not far from the Bolshoi Theater. Soon he moved with his establishment to Bolshaya Italianskaya. Bergamasco visited Paris to study the work of special photography at the Paris Opera. In 1858, Carl Bergamasco was awarded the title of "non-class artist in watercolor landscape painting." The photographer focuses on working with actors and the theater audience. Bergamasco was able to make all his models attractive, skillfully emphasizing the advantages in his works and hiding the shortcomings in the appearance of the customer. He was soon rewarded for his art: already in 1863, Karl received the right to be called the "photographer of the Imperial Theaters" on the condition that "Bergamasco undertook to make an archive and reference album for the directorate free of charge from portraits of artists in all costumes from new ballets and operas staged on the local stage." In 1865, the magazine Fotograf informed its readers that "Bergamasco had been appointed photographer to His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich" (the elder). This fact was immediately reflected on the letterheads of Carl Bergamasco. Since that moment, his fame has been constantly growing, Karl Ivanovich has become one of the leading portrait photographers of the capital, a fashionable and expensive craftsman. His works have consistently won prizes at European exhibitions. He becomes a member of the French Photographic Society. At this time, his studio "Bergamasco" is located in the most prestigious area of the city, on Nevsky Prospekt, 12.

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich (January 2 [14], 1850, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire — November 1 [14], 1908, Paris, France) was the fourth son of Emperor Alexander II and Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Member of the State Council (since January 1, 1881), Chief Chief of the Fleet and the Naval Department and Chairman of the Admiralty Council (1881-1905), the last Admiral General of the Russian Empire (since May 15, 1883), Admiral (January 1, 1888), Adjutant General (since February 19, 1880), Honorary Member of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.

He was enrolled in military service at birth — in the Guards crew and the Life Guards regiments Preobrazhensky and Jaegersky, as well as the chief of Moscow. On his namesake in 1853, he enlisted in the Life Guards Uhlan Regiment. On July 22, 1855, he was enlisted in the newly formed Imperial Rifle Regiment. On March 13, 1856, he became chief of the 27th Naval Crew (later abolished). On his seventh birthday, he received his first senior officer ranks: marine - midshipman and Guards — ensign, and in the same year, by his namesake, patronage of the Yekaterinburg Infantry regiment. Since 1860, he completed naval practice on various ships, under the guidance of his mentor, Rear Admiral K. N. Posyet. On his twelfth birthday, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. On September 13, 1866, he was promoted to lieutenant of the Navy and lieutenant of the Guard.

In 1871, he became chief of the Prussian 2nd Silesian Hussar Regiment No. 6 and was appointed senior officer on the frigate Svetlana, on which he sailed to North America, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and, after visiting China and Japan, arrived in Vladivostok on December 5, 1872, from where he returned overland via Siberia. He visited many Siberian cities. In Tomsk, Aleksey—Alexandrovskaya Street and the real school were named in honor of this visit. During a visit to the United States on January 14, 1872, he participated in a buffalo hunt with General Sheridan and Buffalo Bill. In the same year, he became chief of the Austrian Infantry regiment No. 39.

Since 1873, he commanded the Guards Naval crew. As a member of the shipbuilding and artillery departments of the Maritime Technical Committee, he participated in the activities of the maritime department. On January 2, 1876, he was appointed chief of the 1st East Siberian Line Battalion (since 1900— the 17th East Siberian Rifle Regiment).

During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, he was from June 20, 1877 to January 31, 1878, the head of naval commands on the Danube. He took part in military operations; built a crossing over the Danube. On January 9, 1878, he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree - "<...> according to the testimony of the Commander—in-Chief of the army of the indefatigable and successful management <...> [by naval crews and means, and the successful adoption of all measures to prevent the enemy from harming our crossings, which ensured the army's supply and provided the opportunity to conduct military operations calmly and non-stop." On June 9, 1877, he was promoted to rear admiral; on February 26, 1882, to vice admiral.

On January 1, 1881, he was appointed a member of the State Council; on July 13 of the same year, he was appointed Chief Chief of the Fleet and the Naval Department (instead of his uncle, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich) with the rights of Admiral General and chairman of the Admiralty Council. On May 15, 1883, he was awarded the rank of Admiral General (the last Admiral General of the Russian Navy); on January 1, 1888, he was promoted to the rank of admiral. Since 1890, he was an honorary member of the Berlin Orthodox St. Prince Vladimir Brotherhood. On January 18, 1892, he was appointed chief of the Naval Cadet Corps, and on January 27 of the same year— he was appointed chief of the 5th Naval Crew.

Russian Russian Navy At the end of the Russo-Japanese War, after the Tsushima defeat of the Russian fleet, he voluntarily resigned and was dismissed from all naval posts on June 2, 1905. Russian Russian public opinion considered him one of those responsible for the defeat of Russia in the Russo-Japanese war. His death, which followed in Paris on November 1, 1908, was announced by the supreme manifesto. The body was taken by funeral train to Nikolaevsky railway station. The body was transported from the Nikolaevsky railway Station to the Peter and Paul Cathedral and buried on November 8 according to the highly approved ceremonial. The Liturgy and funeral service were performed by Metropolitan Anthony (Vadkovsky) of St. Petersburg and Ladoga; Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra Feodorovna and the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna were present. He was the first person to be buried in the newly built tomb of members of the imperial family at the Peter and Paul Cathedral.