Photo archive
Rasputin
Russian religious figure associated with the late Romanov court; lived 1869–1916.
Revolution & Modern Icons
Polishing the portrait...
Russian religious figure linked to the final Romanov court.
Life and work
Rasputin became close to the imperial family through his reputation as a holy man and healer. His influence, enemies, and murder made him part of the last years of imperial Russia.
Why it matters
Surviving photographs let the archive present him as a documented person before later legend.
Visual source note
Based on surviving lifetime photographs
Image basis: Surviving photographs.
Sourcesshow
Library of Congress, Rasputin with Tsarina Alexandra and family
appearance evidence / photographic context
Open sourceSmithsonian Magazine, What Really Happened During the Murder of Rasputin
myth/source criticism context
Open source