19th Century watercolour painting of Empress Alexandra of Russia

19th Century watercolour painting of Empress Alexandra of Russia
Dutch, c. 1855
Height 52cm, width 47.5cm, depth 3cm
 
The Dutch artist Pierre Tetar van Elven (1828-1908), the court painter of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy (1828-1878) is responsible for this stunning watercolour painting. The image portrays the Russian Queen (otherwise known as the Empress or Tsarina) Alexandra Feodorovna (1872-1918), famous for being Russia's last Empress before the Revolution of 1917. She was the wife of Tsar Nicholas II, and this painting depicts the Empress together with her entourage during a visit to the French city of Nice in the winter of 1855. The figures are shown in front of a chateau, with a steep hillside shown behind.
 
The watercolour is set inside a rectangular giltwood frame, and it is signed 'P.T. v. Elven' to the lower left. The reverse of the painting contains an inscription in French, which reads, 'Alexandrine Feodorowna Impératrice de Russie et sa suite pendant l'hiver de 1855 a Nice. Pierre Tetar van Elven Nizza' ('Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of Russia and her followers during the winter of 1855 in Nice. Pierre Tetar van Elven Nizza').
 
Artist/Maker: Pierre Tetar van Elven