Moscow in photographs of the 1860s – erly 1900s from the collection of the Russian Museum

Abstract

The collection of the Russian Museum contains a unique pictorial series, which variously demonstrates the photographic image of Moscow from the period of 1860s – early 1900s. Many famous photographic companies and renowned photographers became its creators, among them: “Scherer, Nabholz & Co.”, “Russian Photography in Moscow”, A. P. Reinbot, I. F. Barshchevsky, I. N. Alexandrov and many others. Their interest in capturing the  appearance of the ancient capital was extremely wide: photographs of views and fixing fragments of buildings and interiors, static architectural photography and dynamic scenes of  everyday city life, large-format “August offerings” and democratic open letters (postcards). Photographed often from different viewpoints, in different years, these historical shots provide an opportunity for the modern viewer to see, and to researcher to study, the former location, old architectural forms and past purpose of the buildings. At the same time, many images of pre-revolutionary Moscow are exclusively architectural and interior photofixations. Only a small part of the works includes scenes of urban life. Numerous photographs from the  museum’s collection depict in various phototechniques and formats not only the Moscow views and architectural monuments that have disappeared forever, but also preserved iconic sights, as well as demolished but recreated relatively recently famous historical sites: the  Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Resurrection Gate and the Iversky Chapel. An important place in the museum’s collection is occupied by photographs of the historical center of Moscow: buildings and monuments of the ancient Kremlin and Red Square, surrounded by picturesque architectural ensembles. Of particular interest are panoramic images: individual photographs, independent photographic series, one-of-a-kind photo albums. Certainly, an important place in this row belongs to the unique multi-frame photo panorama of Moscow, taken in 1867 from the bell towers and gallery of the Cathedral of  Christ the Savior under construction by the masters of the famous Moscow-based photographic company “Scherer, Nabholz & Co.”. The ability to see the transformed and disappeared places of the city is also demonstrated by numerous open letters of views issued by publishers both as independent copies and by thematic series, both in monochrome and in  color. Moreover, it is precisely the plots of open letters, in contrast to photographs, that are «animated» and filled with everyday city bustle. For the first time, materials (photographs, photo albums, postcards, reproductions) depicting the views of Moscow from the collection of the Russian Museum were exhibited in 2018 at the second exhibition from the series of a  photographic retrospective of the museum “Traveling around Russian Empire”.