Historical notes on 19th century Georgia unveiled in British Library archives
A panoramic painting of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi in 1810, created by a British traveller. Photo: Giorgi Kalandia on Facebook.
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Fresh historical notes about Georgia, from letters by Georgian nobility to travellers’ sketches of national costumes, are being uncovered in archives of the British Library in London before their planned publication back in homeland.
The varied material, mostly concerning personalities and culture in the 19th century Georgia, is being studied by Giorgi Kalandia, Director of Tbilisi’s Art Palace museum.
The historian has been using his social media account to share discoveries with his online followers, reporting new findings and publishing photographs of original archival material.
People dressed in Georgian national costumes, in sketches created by an early 19th century British visitor to Georgia and published as a traveller’s book in London. Photo: Giorgi Kalandia on Facebook.
These include notes produced by British sailors and travellers and published in the United Kingdom, with most of the archival findings either unknown to Georgian historians or not accessible for studying until now.
Kalandia reported sketches, photographs and gravures of panoramic views of Tbilisi and western Georgian locations among his discoveries.
Drawings of Georgian residents dressed in national costumes and letters by nobility - including Queen Consort Ana Orbeliani of the Imereti Kingdom - were also in vaults studied by the researcher in London.
A painting of the Leghvtakhevi ravine, as the location in Tbilisi’s historical Abanotubani district appeared to a British traveller in 1800. Photo: Giorgi Kalandia on Facebook.
Kalandia, whose work at the British Library was made possible through a research grant from Tbilisi’s Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, said his museum would work to publish the discovered material back in Georgia.
Over the past few years Art Palace has worked on projects involving historical material on Georgia in British archives and 18th century press.
These have included introduction of British readers to King Erekle II (also known as Heraclius II), one of the last monarchs of Georgia, by the English and Irish press.
British newspaper reports introducing their 18th century readers to one of Georgia’s last monarchs are becoming available to the Georgian public for the first time through a new print collection, set to be unveiled by Tbilisi’s Art Palace museum venue on Friday.
Sixteen unique Georgia-related royal correspondence letters between two famous monarchs that ruled over the British Isles in the 16th Century are now showcased at the Arts Palace of Georgia in capital Tbilisi.
Hundreds of historical notes and articles about Georgia’s 18th Century King Erekle II originally from old British press are being collected and published in a special book by Tbilisi’s Art Palace.
Ancient newspaper clippings describing the history of one of Georgia’s most distinguished noble families has been transferred from Ireland to Georgia.
A Georgian-language section opened in Queens Library of New York City on 22 January.
The international terminological resource of EuroTermBank will now offer terms in the Georgian language to users. EuroTermBank is the largest online terminology bank.
A Georgian coin of major historical importance is being displayed for the first time outside the United Kingdom, with the Museum of Georgia set to open a three-month exhibition of the Coin of King David IV next week.
A Georgian library was opened in the University of Qatar, reports Giorgi Kekelidze, the Director of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia.
The history and culture of both urban and rural life in Georgia will be introduced to interested viewers via an online meeting organised by the British Georgian Society next week, with Michael Bloom, founder of the Georgian Harmony Association UK, leading the subject.
A Portrait of a Gentleman with Skull attributed to Pieter Jansz Pourbus, which was formerly owned by Georgian noble Andria Dadiani in the 17th century, has returned to Georgia. “I know it is unbelievable but we managed to acquire this masterpiece during the pandemic!” Director General of Tbilisi Art Palace Museum Giorgi Kalandia wrote on Facebook yesterday.