Photo of Count Dmitry Sergeevich Sheremetyev at a costume ball in 1903 in a suit, the design of which is based on the portrait of boyar Vasily Borisovich Sheremetev, the governor of Kiev, who was held captive for 15 years by the Crimean Tatars.

Photographers F. G. Boasson, F. O. Eggler. 1903

Photo: 19.5 х 9,8 cm. Passe-partout: 24 x 13.1 cm.
The photo is pasted on a passe-partout.
Dedication in black ink in French "Au Baron de Baye ,,, / Souvenir du Conte D. Cheremeteff / 1903." [To Baron de Baye, a souvenir from Count D. Sheremetev. 1903] under the photograph.
Slight staining and yellowing of the passe-partout.

The famous 1903 ball in the Winter Palace was a luxurious ball during the reign of the Emperor Nicholas II of Russia. It was held in the Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg. All the visitors were in bejeweled 17th-century style costumes based on the designs of the artist Sergey Solomko made in collaboration with historical experts.

The entire Imperial family posed in rich 17th-century costumes, many wearing priceless original items brought specially from the Kremlin, for what was to be their final photograph together. "Album of the Costume Ball in the Winter Palace" was published later based on the photographs.