Crimea in photographs of 1880-1910-s from the collection of the Russian Museum, From the cycle "Travelling around the Russian Empire"

It is more than two centuries that the territory of the Crimean peninsula forms part of the historical and cultural heritage of Russia. The main interest to Crimea evolved in 1880-s with the works of Russian photographers - those from the photography workshops of Yalta (I. Nostits, F. Orlov, I. Semenov) and Sevastopol (K. Kolpakcheev, S. Rainish) and those who were coming to Crimea with scientific and archeological expeditions (I. Barschevsky, V. Mashukov). During their trips to the peninsula these and other professionals or amateurs were making pictures of the natural and architectural highlights of Crimea. The beginning of the XX century saw rise of the interest to this subject due to the intense tourism to the peninsula and rising popularity of photographic postcards. The Russian museum exhibition provides an opportunity to see the rare and unique photographs made in various genres, format and technique. Specific attention is given to the work of the prominent Russian photographer Ivan Barschevsky (1851-1948), who visited Crimea in 1888 with the exhibition of Imperial Moscow Archeological Society and made pictures of Bakhchysarai and its environs. This virtual stroll around the Crimean peninsula opens the cycle "Travelling around the Russian Empire" that will present the best pieces of the Russian historical photography from the collection of the Russian museum.