Portrait of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

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Alexandra Feodorovna, born Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, was Empress of Russia from June 6, 1872 to July 17, 1918 as the wife of Nicholas II, the last Russian monarch. A granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the UK, Alexandra Feodorovna converted to the Russian Orthodox Church and took her new name upon joining the faith. Her life tragically ended in 1918 when she was executed with her family while in Bolshevik custody, earning her sainthood as Saint Alexandra the Passion Bearer in 2000. In 1871, artist Mark Antokolsky created his first Russian sculpture, "Ivan the Terrible," which left a lasting impression on art critics and connoisseurs. Emperor Alexander II was so impressed with the piece that he requested a bronze copy and awarded the sculptor an advance payment of 4,000 rubles. Pavel Tretyakov commissioned a marble replica for his gallery, using the funds to help Antokolsky address personal financial issues. That same year, Mark Antokolsky met Jelena, also known as Gene, in Vilnius. She was the daughter of wealthy merchant Judelis Giršovičius Apatovas. The couple married on September 6, 1872, just days after Alexandra Feodorovna's birth.