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Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna The Grand Duchess was the youngest sister of ill-fated Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Her entire life was marred by relentless adversity that plunged her from unimaginable wealth to poverty. Petite, fragile, self-effacing, she had a heart full of compassion and was deeply religious. Miraculously, she managed to survive the intrigue and decline of the last imperial reign, communist persecution and the long years of exile in Denmark and Canada, where she died in Toronto on November 24, 1960 at the age of 78. Her paintings, vivid and sensitive, are immersed in the subdued light of her beloved Russia. Besides her numerous landscapes and flower pictures that reveal her inherent love for nature, she often also dwells on scenes from simple daily life in Russia, Denmark and Canada, all executed with a sensitive eye for composition, expression and detail. Her work exudes peace, serenity and a spirit of love that mirror her own character, in total contrast to the suffering she experienced through most of her life. Artworks by Grand Duchess Olga are in the collections of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, His Majesty King Harald of Norway, the Ballerup Museum, Denmark, and private collections in the United States, Canada and Europe, among others. |
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