Portrait of Empress Marie Feodorovna

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This bust portrays the Empress Maria Feodorovna in characteristic elegance and simplicity, showcasing her refined taste through the understated design of her garments and the high neckline that emphasizes her nobility and connection to the royal family. Maria Feodorovna (November 26, 1847 – October 13, 1928), baptized Dagmar, was a Danish princess who became Empress of Russia as the spouse of Tsar Alexander III (reigned 1881–1894). Mark Antokolsky, the artist, began his first "Russian" sculpture in 1871, a masterpiece titled "Ivan the Terrible," which made an immense impression on all art connoisseurs and evaluators. Upon seeing the sculpture, Emperor Alexander II requested its bronze replica and awarded the sculptor an advance payment of 4,000 roubles. Pavel Tretyakov commissioned a marble copy for his gallery, enabling Antokolsky to resolve his personal financial issues. In 1871 (in Vilnius), Antokolski met Jelena (Gene), the daughter of a wealthy merchant named Judelis Giršovičius Apatovas. The two married on September 6, 1872.