Favorite Royal Images: The First Nicholas and Alexandra
Two of the very best: Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra of Russia, in a classical pose, truly looking like the Imperial couple of the "Third Rome".
That's the only things that bothered me about the Russian Empire: it's claim of succession to Rome. There's a variety of reasons for this, but suffice to say I think the Roman Empire can only come out of Rome. Not Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul, and not Moscow. Perhaps I think too literally. Although it is amazing how the Romanesque style continues to look good on anyone. It is a nice picture. Do you know if it's just a vignette, or a larger painting?
Nothing can replace the "Fatal hills of Rome" but, with Russia, I think it was more just a recognition that Moscow became the most powerful Eastern Orthodox city after Constantinople fell to the Ottomans. As for the picture, I think that's all there is to it and I like it, apart from the style, because it shows how memory of the Roman Empire lived on, and continued to be emulated even by monarchs hailing from countries over which no Roman legion ever marched.
That's the only things that bothered me about the Russian Empire: it's claim of succession to Rome.
ReplyDeleteThere's a variety of reasons for this, but suffice to say I think the Roman Empire can only come out of Rome. Not Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul, and not Moscow. Perhaps I think too literally.
Although it is amazing how the Romanesque style continues to look good on anyone. It is a nice picture. Do you know if it's just a vignette, or a larger painting?
Nothing can replace the "Fatal hills of Rome" but, with Russia, I think it was more just a recognition that Moscow became the most powerful Eastern Orthodox city after Constantinople fell to the Ottomans. As for the picture, I think that's all there is to it and I like it, apart from the style, because it shows how memory of the Roman Empire lived on, and continued to be emulated even by monarchs hailing from countries over which no Roman legion ever marched.
ReplyDeleteIt's the Dream of Rome, I suppose.
ReplyDelete