Mannequin depicting Alexander III installed in his Study in the Gatchina Palace

1930s. Postcard.
Before the October Revolution of 1917 Emperor Alexander III was called «The Peacemaker», because during his reign Russia was not involved in any wars. In the Soviet Union time his role in history was considered to be negative. Yet the museum workers managed to preserve the private chambers of the Emperor and his son. The rooms were small with low ceilings and a lot of furniture. The mannequin (which does not look very much like the Emperor) was installed in the Study in 1932, depicting the Emperor playing the helicon.