
"Renaissance Photographs" Collection
The photographs are a valuable source of information about the historical past of the Bulgarians from the 19th century, through them the history is accurately and objectively illustrated. The photos are also a source of information about the development of Bulgarian photography. In museum practice, photographs are used in research, exhibition and publishing activities, in the organization of exhibitions and museum expositions, in the creation of films, in the coverage of anniversaries of important historical events.
The "Renaissance Photographs" collection from the NIM fund contains over 300 inventory numbers. It stores original or photo-reproduced portraits and photos of a documentary nature. Chronological boundaries include photographs from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
The main principle in the formation of the collection is the search, storage and exhibition of photographs documenting leading Bulgarian Renaissance figures, their families and associates and foreign figures with an important role in the historical destiny of Bulgarians from the 19th century. Parallel to the main thematic line, the collection is complemented by documentary evidence - photos, photo reproductions and postcards with images of significant historical places and memorable events related to the Bulgarian Revival.
The collection includes:
– Portraits of Bulgarian educators who lived and worked in the Renaissance era (Dobri Chintulov, Vasil Drumev, Sava Dobroplodni, Hilarion Makariopolski, Argira Zhechkova)
– Portraits of the ideologues of the national revolutionary organization, participants in the legions, apostles and actors of the April Uprising, Bulgarians sent into exile, militiamen from the Liberation War (Vasil Levski, Hristo Botev, Dimitar Pashkov, Georgi Minchev, Marin Poplukanov, Atanas Uzunov, Prokopi Dyankov , Simo Sokolov, Zheko Dimitriev)
- Foreign actors related to Bulgarian pre-liberation history - engaged in various missions in support of the Bulgarian revival cause, portraits of commanders in chief of the Russian army during the Liberation War of 1877-1878 (General Skobelev, Count Ignatiev)
– Group portraits of insurgents, defenders, militiamen and photos of events (Chervenovodskaya Cheta, Defenders of the Kozloduy Beach)
– Portraits of relatives and friends of the revivalists (Gina Kuncheva, Yana Kuncheva, Nun Evgenia, Ivanka Boteva, Natalia Karavelova)
– Photos of unknown persons from the 19th century, testifying to the lifestyle and clothing, family and social relations in the Bulgarian Renaissance society)
- Photographs of historical places, monuments and celebrations related to the national liberation struggles of the Bulgarian people (Transferring the bones of G.S. Rakovski from Bucharest to Ruse, 1885, Vasil Levski's monument in Karlovo, Saving the Samara flag, Captured Osman Pasha in Pleven, 29.11.1877 Skobelev Park in Pleven)