Romanov Ball #artlust

👑 The Romanov Ball of 1903: Luxury Before the Fall

YouTube Description:
In 1903, the Romanov dynasty celebrated its 290th anniversary with an opulent costume ball, a $20 million spectacle of aristocratic excess. But while gold-threaded gowns and emeralds dazzled the elite, Russia’s working class faced growing unrest. Just two years later, the first revolution would shake the empire.

🔹 A Lavish Affair – The ball’s extravagant cost starkly contrasted with Russia’s struggles.
🔹 Extravagant Costumes – Guests wore gold-embroidered 17th-century attire, with Zarina Alexandra in a fist-sized emerald.
🔹 Foreshadowing Revolution – A guest sensed trouble ahead, as labor strikes swept Russia in the same year.

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[aketcham]

The costumes are PHENOMENAL > the sociology is terrifyingly familiar😳

[Ivan-qkrn]

also, for people in comment section, this style is basically aristocracy litterally cosplaying their idea of "ancient Rus", Byzanthium and romantic rendering of folktales lumped into one thing. It's like when you ask people from MAGA what exactly time they want to return, traditions and values of what exact age they want to restore, they give you a hedge-podge of answer that is just a reactionary delulu costume. This ball was about a crumbling monarchy clinging to an imaginary past of cartoonish czars and kings from Shrek.

[johncoursey]

Not that the whole family deserved what happened, but man it's so hard to imagine it going any other way. Imagine hearing about this or even catching a glimpse of it while you're struggling to keep a roof over your head and bread in your belly.

Given the wealth inequality here in the US currently I do wonder if we'll see more of this sort of conspicuous wealth. Or do rich people actually learn a little from history?

[CrazyPlantLady]

Sounds very similar to what's happening today ... the MET Gala, the Ambani weddings, etc. Humans never learn from history.

[heathergerbyshak]

The costumes are AMAZING as shown in old photos which have been colorized.

It would take months to hand sew and embroider one of those costumes.

And the Russian revolution not long after this.

[ayates]

I can't believe how much he and his English King cousin look so much alike.

[heathergerbyshak]

People love to hate communism, but it’s this excess consumption that the Russian revolution protested. People in Russia and controlled smaller countries were starving and scavenging for food like old root vegetables missed by the harvest. This is why the common people were so angry.

The problem is, what is the best way to feed most people and give them a decent life. Folks at this party were not worried about the welfare of the peasants and serfs or the tradespeople. They just wanted to have a good party, show off and cement alliances, and to celebrate the glory of the bygone days of Rus and an imagined wonderful past. MRGA?

[andrealarocco]

I’ve seen 2 maybe 3 of the Imperial Faberge gifts that the Czar and Czarina gave to their “more important guests” from this party. I almost think of this party as the “burning of Rome while Nero played” type of event.

[Dukedogdog]

As much as I hate the rich, I would die to go to one of these parties. Not modern ones, no no give me 18th century France. I want excessive silverware and gaudy jewels.
Awful people, but man... What a place to just look around

[fluoxeturtle]

Hiii, russian here.
Yeah the President green flagged this guy and his family to become Russian Orthodox Saints. Because believe me there is not such a thing as separation of church and state. It happened right about when the first laws about bashing gay rights and the conflicts leading to the war with Ukraine started.
Looking back, it all seems… predictable and darkly ironic.

[businessbuilder]

That last picture looks like the picture on the wall at the end of the shining 😅

[moon]

My eyes feel cursed looking at the All That

[desiregonzales]

So, the cost of attending the super bowl.

[LifeLostSoul]

I had seen a lot of these photos before but did not know what they were from.

[thesixthgirl]

Simple peasant dress...just, you know, embellished a bit. They really are not like us.

[moon]

Btw, have you watched this music video of Brush my shoulders off by Jane Zhang? It introduced me so many paintings that I now know to be extremely wellknown...

[Reverse_Cowgirl-cat]

Wasn't there a similar display of gluttonous greed during the American gilded age that came in the form of a costume party?

Idk of it had as many jewls, but it had a similar vibe with photo shoots.