An Imperial Presentation Partial Folio "Crimean Pictures" Friederich Johann Gross (Ukrainian, 1822-1896) Lithographs heightened with gouache on paper The folio with a Royal Coburg bookplate and Inventory Number. Folio incomplete with only three plates. PROVENANCE: Prince Nikita Alexandrovich of Russia; Prince Alexander Nikitich Romanoff; Princess Maria Romanoff. Johan Friedrich (Feodor Ivanovich) Gross was a Russian of German origin born in what is now Ukraine. He became famous for his lithographic works in Crimea, and was well known as a premier art lithographer in Odessa. He did many famous works during the period of the Crimean War, and became Aivazovsky's first drawing teacher, and recommended him to the Imperial Academy. In 1846, his album "Views of the Crimea" was published in 32 sheets. The offered lot was printed in 1860, and is only a partial grouping of three plates, together with some additional images. The presence of a Coburg bookplate indicates that this may have been presented by Emperor Alexander II who commissioned the work, to his daughter Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, later Duchess of Edinburgh and Duchess of Coburg. A loose piece of paper in the folio reading in Russian "From Papa" suggests that the folio belonged to Prince Nikita Alexandrovich. It is uncertain when and where the folio was acquired, but from 1924-1932, Prince Nikita Alexandrovich was very close to Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, who assumed the title of Emperor-in-Exile in 1924. His wife, Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna was the daughter of Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna and inherited many of her mother's things at the time of the Duchess of Coburg's death in 1924. It is possible that Prince Nikita received the folio at that time. Estate of Princess Maria Romanoff HID03101062020 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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