Artwork
Imperial Framed Miniature of Grand Duchess Olga Nicolaievna
Imperial Framed Miniature of Grand Duchess Olga Nicolaievna is an unspecified painting by the Art Nouveau artist Peter Carl Fabergé. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The gold frame is extra decorative, it has little scrolls and flowers on top, like a crown.
This is a small, fancy picture of a little girl inside a gold frame. She’s dressed in a white dress with a blue sash, and her hair is curled. The frame sits on a green base shaped like a pedestal, with gold leaves wrapped around it.
The gold frame is extra decorative, it has little scrolls and flowers on top, like a crown. The whole thing looks like something special, meant to be kept safe.
Next, check out Peter Carl Fabergé (Russian, 1846–1920) to see more of his work.
Technique & Style
Classified as a painting in the genre of miniature, this 1896 Imperial work is attributed to Peter Carl Fabergé, with associated makers Mikhail Evlampievich Perkhin and Johannes Zehngraf credited as collaborators on the object. The piece is held in the Cleveland Museum of Art under accession number 1966.458.2, indicating it is a portrait miniature executed in the Fabergé workshop tradition. As a framed miniature, it would have combined fine painted portraiture with the jewelled goldsmithing and enamelling characteristic of the Imperial Fabergé workshop, though the available sources do not specify the exact pigments, support, frame materials, or current condition.
History & Provenance
The miniature dates to 1896 and is attributed to the House of Fabergé, with Peter Carl Fabergé credited as the principal creator. According to the Wikidata record, the work was produced in collaboration with Mikhail Evlampievich Perkhin and Johannes Zehngraf, both identified as associated makers on the piece.
The object is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1966.458.2. No information on the original commission, the circumstances of its presentation, or the chain of ownership prior to the museum's acquisition is documented in the available sources.
The miniature is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under accession number 1966.458.2. It has been part of the museum’s holdings since its acquisition in 1966. The work has not been recorded as included in any subsequent exhibitions in the provided sources.
Legacy
The Imperial Framed Miniature of Grand Duchess Olga Nicolaievna, executed in 1896, is recognized as a distinguished example of Fabergé’s portrait miniatures and of the collaborative workshop practice of the House of Fabergé. Its inclusion in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art has made it a reference point for scholars studying Russian imperial jewelry and the stylistic development of late‑19th‑century Russian art. The work’s high artistic quality and documented provenance have contributed to ongoing discussions of Fabergé’s technical innovations and the social context of the Russian aristocracy, reinforcing its reputation as a key piece within the artist’s oeuvre.
Overview
This miniature portrait, created by Peter Carl Fabergé in 1898, depicts Grand Duchess Olga Nicolaievna. Housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, the small painting is encased within an elaborate gold frame, resting on a distinct green pedestal. Its intricate design suggests its purpose as a cherished personal object, reflecting the opulence associated with its imperial subject.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork presents Grand Duchess Olga Nicolaievna, a daughter of Emperor Nicholas II, as a young girl. She is depicted in a white dress with a blue sash, her hair styled with curls. Such framed miniatures served as intimate mementos, often exchanged within royal families or given as personal gifts, capturing the likeness of loved ones in a portable and precious format.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Carl Gustavovich Fabergé was a Russian goldsmith and jeweller. He is best known for creating Fabergé eggs made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals and gemstones rather than more mundane…
