Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia (1819%E2%80%931876)

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna of Russia was a daughter of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, sister of Alexander II and aunt of Alexander III. In 1839 she married Maximilian, Duke of Leuchtenberg. She was an art collector and President of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna was born onAugust 1819 in Krasnoye Selo, near Saint Petersburg. She was the second of seven surviving children and the eldest daughter. Her parents, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, born Princess Charlotte of Prussia, were devoted to each other and to their children. They were warm and affectionate parents, but avoided overindulging them. In the evenings, Alexandra Feodorovna played games with her children, including riddles and charades. The Tsar liked to sing chorus music with them. The siblings grew up in a close knit family, remaining in good terms all their lives.

Source: Wikipedia