Princess Marie of Greece painted a series of caricatures she called “Katoufs” during her exile in England in the early 20th century.

This Katouf depicts a frog-like creature with human ears, teeth and lips, wearing a bow tie and starched white color.

Watercolor

Initialed M, and inscribed, “With Granny’s Best Wishes”

Framed, 5 x 3.3 in (12.7 x 8.4 cm)

Provenance:
Princess Marie of Greece (1876-1940), and her daughter Princess Xenia Georgievna of Russia (1903-1965), thence by descent

Marie Georgievna was the fifth child of King George I of Greece and Olga Konstantinovna of Russia. Her mother was the grand-daughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Empress Consort Charlotte of Russia.

In 1900, Marie married Grand Duke George Mikhailovich (1863-1919), grandson of Nicholas I. George was a good friend of Nicholas II and accompanied the Tsarevich on his World Tour. In Japan, he is said to have saved the future Tsar’s life from a samurai-wielding policeman.

The couple had two children, Princess Xenia Georgievna Romanova of Russia and Princess Nina (both pictured with Grand Duchess George) . In 1919, George was killed by the Bolsheviks in St. Petersburg. At the outbreak of World War I, Marie moved to England where she remained with her daughters for seven years. It is there that she created a series of caricatures in gouache, which she called “Katoufs” one of which is represented here. This example comes directly from her descendants.