Carte-de-visite depicting a full-length portrait of Marie, Empress of Russia. She is sitting on an upholstered chair next to a small side table. She is facing three-quarters left and looking down to read from a book, which she holds on her lap with her right her. She is wearing a long dress, shawl and a dark coloured headdress. There are larger books placed on the side table.

This photograph was taken in September or October 1864 during a visit to her brother Prince Alexander of Hesse at his home in Jugenheim, near Darmstadt.