Russian Empire, St. Petersburg. Photographer K.K. Bulla, 1910.
23.9 x 29.7 cm.
Stamp on the back side "Photographer K.K.Bulla // St. Petersburg, Nevsky prospect, 54.". Also an inscription in pencil at the top left "Page 2"; on the right - "Krasnoe Selo // Sovereign Emperor during // watching the exercises // officers of the fencing school // on the tsar's roller".
The photo is from the documents of Major de Vallières (Pierre des Vallières) who was present at the maneuvers in Krasnoe Selo in the summer of 1910.
Bulla Karl Karlovich (1855 - 1929) was a Russian photographer who went down in history as the "father of Russian photo reporting". Supplier to Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna Romanova, court photographer to King Nicholas I of Montenegro, personal photographer to His Majesty the King of Italy, court photographer to His Majesty the King of Serbia. Bulla is the holder of a number of medals, awards, honorary titles and a cavalier of six foreign orders. In addition, Bulla was often honoured by members of the Russian imperial family, for example, he received a gold watch and, later, a silver cigarette case as a gift from Emperor Nicholas II for his achievements in photography.