History of Russia: Photographs of the late XIX - early XX centuries presented at the exhibition in the depository of the Veliky Ustyug Museum-Reserve

On August 16, 2021, a mini-exhibition "Moments of Life. Photographs by Georgy Lokhtin of the Late XIX - Early XX Centuries" will be launched in the depository of the Veliky Ustyug Museum-Reserve.

The exposition features photographs by Georgy Lokhtin. He is one of the most famous photographers of Veliky Ustyug of the late XIX - early XX centuries. His photo studio, located in his house, was popular among the residents of Veliky Ustyug. Collections of the Veliky Ustyug Museum-Reserve preserved more than a hundred Lokhtin's photographs.

The exhibition presents sixteen of his works. These are portraits, group and wedding photographs, family pictures of the residents of Veliky Ustyug. His heroes are the employees of the Veliky Ustyug Zemstvo in 1903–1906 and the graduates of the Veliky Ustyug Eparchy School in 1914. A unique selection features the images of employees of the Police Department, Zemstvo and the City Duma, taken on the opening day of the District Court (January 6, 1912) against the background of the portrait of Emperor Nicholas II.

The photo collection by Georgy Lokhtin includes views of Veliky Ustyug and its magnificent temples. Lokhtin also captured significant events from the public life of the city. In 1903, he photographed the procession and prayer services devoted to the 600th anniversary of the death of Procopius of Ustyug, the wonderworker and patron saint of the city, the first holy fool in Russia. The photographer took six pictures, which made up an album. The advertising text to the album stated that "the pictures were luxuriously filmed, made on platinum paper; you can recognize people who participated in the celebrations". The exhibition provides three photographs related to this event.

The exposition, representing the life of the residents of Veliky Ustyug at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, will run until October 17, 2021, and will be of interest to a general audience.