Princess Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia (DOMD)

[Ken Cheng]

Princess Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia, a historical figure of the 17th Century, appeared as a character in DUKE OF MT. DEER. In adaptations of DOMD, she is often portrayed as a beautiful young princess, and casting directors typically cast an attractive young Eurasian actress for the role. It's often jokingly mooted that Sophia could have become Wai Siu Bo's eighth wife.

Somehow, I don't think so...



One thing that must be said for Sophia: she was most *definitely* a Russian woman!

[Han Solo]

Here, a younger picture of her.

A bright bubby face.

Han Solo

[Ken Cheng]

Is that her too?

Which one is the more accurate portrait?

[sniffles]

Princess Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia, a historical figure of the 17th Century, appeared as a character in DUKE OF MT. DEER. In adaptations of DOMD, she is often portrayed as a beautiful young princess, and casting directors typically cast an attractive young Eurasian actress for the role. It's often jokingly mooted that Sophia could have become Wai Siu Bo's eighth wife.

Somehow, I don't think so...



One thing that must be said for Sophia: she was most *definitely* a Russian woman!

This doesn't really look like a 17th-century portrait. The style is wrong. It would have been very odd for a princess to be portrayed like that with a frown and her arms crossed. The image Han Solo posted seems much more appropriate for a 17th-century Russian royal portrait. Even if she really looked like this, the artist would have made her look prettier.

[Ken Cheng]

The portrait was made by Ilya Repin in the 19th Century, some two centuries after Sophia's time.

My guess is that Repin was *not* trying to idealize Sophia...at least not in terms of beauty standards as we understand them today.

[jadebunny9]

Even if Sophia doesn't look that great in the portrait, it's still a magnificent piece. I'm more interested in that figure outside the window....is that a zombie or something?

[flamer]

Wow... she's not too happy is she...

[flamer]

Even if Sophia doesn't look that great in the portrait, it's still a magnificent piece. I'm more interested in that figure outside the window....is that a zombie or something?

That looks like a hanged man. The princess might not be the most kind princess in Russia...

[Ken Cheng]

I'm more interested in that figure outside the window....is that a zombie or something?

They might be the corpses of the rebels who failed in their attempt to help her stage a coup against her brother, Peter the Great. She was apparently locked up in a convent as punishment, and the corpses of the rebels were suspended in front of her window.

Wow... she's not too happy is she...

Quite defiant, despite being a political prisoner...

[Han Solo]

The potrait that i got was from the Heritage website.

As you may know, the Heritage is one of the most famous arts/historical monument in Russia.

Han Solo

[ChanceEncounter]

Even if Sophia doesn't look that great in the portrait, it's still a magnificent piece. I'm more interested in that figure outside the window....is that a zombie or something?

Or the person on the left. Or what is it in the mirror? It doesn't look like a reflection of the room.

A very interesting portrait, for sure.

[jadebunny9]

I keep taking a look at it and now I'm going to bed.........yet it's still imprinted in my brains. And not the prettiest thing to be going to bed with. =\

[duguxiaojing]

Princess Sophia Alekseyevna of Russia, a historical figure of the 17th Century, appeared as a character in DUKE OF MT. DEER. In adaptations of DOMD, she is often portrayed as a beautiful young princess, and casting directors typically cast an attractive young Eurasian actress for the role. It's often jokingly mooted that Sophia could have become Wai Siu Bo's eighth wife.

Somehow, I don't think so...



One thing that must be said for Sophia: she was most *definitely* a Russian woman!

Wow...now that's a real woman..how could WXB not be all over that.

[Candide]

That first painting is of Sophia when she was imprisoned at a convent.

A middle-aged woman living in such a condition, with all sorts of negative emotions, no freedom, no makeup, no decent clothing etc. isn't gonna look very pretty. Seen our modern celebrities with no makeup in their normal daily life? Imagine them being imprisoned.

[flyingfox2002]

Methinks I have found my next avatar!

[kidd]

The picture Ken posted is scary. What with the corpse outside the window and the eerie kid's face in the mirror.

[sniffles]

The portrait was made by Ilya Repin in the 19th Century, some two centuries after Sophia's time.

My guess is that Repin was *not* trying to idealize Sophia...at least not in terms of beauty standards as we understand them today.

Ah, I had assumed by your original post that you thought the portrait was painted from life.

It looks like Repin might have been influenced by Whistler or Sergeant or other 19th-century portraitists. The technique in the brocade and pearls on her gown are very reminiscent of their styles.

It's probably not a very accurate actual portrait, though, since Repin woudn't know what Princess Sophia really looked like. Possibly there are other portraits less idealized than the contemporary one (the second image) from which he could have painted. Or perhaps there were written descriptions of her.

[shortsight]

The one Han Solo posted must be the princess Wei Xiaobao met. Poor princess after being dumped by WXB became the one posted by Ken??

[loislane]

AWESOME art!!!

So, was there any romance between WXB and Sophia in the book? Did WXB fall for her or did she fall for him?

[Candide]

WXB banged her all the way from the Sino-Russian border back to Moscow.