Keywords: Moscow Kremlin, Topkapi Palace, exhibition

The high level of Russian-Turkish relations in the political, trade and economic spheres ensures the dynamic development of relations between the two countries in the field of culture. A convincing proof is the exchange of exhibitions. Recently, the exhibition "Treasures of the Ottoman Sultans" from the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul was completed in the Moscow Kremlin, and "Treasures of the Moscow Kremlin" in the Turkish capital. Both expositions were met with genuine interest by the general public. Our special correspondent tells about the Istanbul exhibition.

The exhibition "Treasures of the Moscow Kremlin" has become truly unique. For the first time, the oldest Russian museum presented exhibits from its collection in Turkey. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey E. Gunay, Director of the Topkapi Museum I. Ortayli, Director General of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin" E. Gagarina, Director of the agency "Istanbul-European Capital of Culture-2010" S. Avdagich, as well as the Russian Ambassador to Turkey V. E. Ivanovsky. Colorful posters and huge banners decorated the multimillion-dollar Istanbul, eloquently confirming the words of local leaders that the Kremlin exhibition has become one of the most important projects implemented within the framework of the program "Istanbul - European Capital of Culture-2010".

And it really is. Residents and visitors of Istanbul, visiting "Topkapi", had the opportunity to see more than 140 relics that represent the splendor of the royal court in the era of the first Romanovs-Mikhail Fedorovich and Alexey Mikhailovich. It is noteworthy that most of the exhibits presented at the exhibition were made in Istanbul and are among the most valuable surviving works of famous Ottoman masters of the XVI-XVII centuries.

The products of Turkish jewelers and gunsmiths were highly valued in Russia, and close diplomatic and trade ties contributed to the creation of a collection of highly artistic items produced in the Ottoman Empire. They brought, first of all, precious weapons, famous for both their steel and luxurious decoration, horse decorations, and magnificent Turkish fabrics. Many of the items presented at the exhibition, including the precious weapons of the "big outfit", were made in Istanbul by special order. There, by the way, in Tsar Grad, the regalia of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov was also ordered, which are still stored in the Armory of the Moscow Kremlin today.

The exhibition held in Topkapi Palace will be remembered for a long time by visitors and many historical details. After all, in those days, all items brought or sent from Turkey as gifts were recorded in special parish books of the Embassy order, and the most valuable of them were selected for storage in the royal treasury. Turkish items brought to Russia in the XVI-XVII centuries were organically integrated into the official and everyday life of the Moscow court, while some of them found direct use, others-indirectly. Thus, some types of weapons and ceremonial horse gear were used without any changes in the most important ceremonies of the state. It is known that in the XVI century the Russian cavalry was armed with a significant part of the Turkish set of protective and combat equipment. And even in the XVII century, when Russia increasingly begins to use the military experience of advanced Western European states, Turkish weapons continue to be in demand.

As for horse decoration, the proximity of ceremonial departure ceremonies in Russia and Turkey increases-

We consider the Turkish samples fully applicable in Russia. So, Turkish fabrics for the Moscow court came, as a rule, in measured pieces and by the hands of Russian tailors and embroiderers turned into various objects of local life. From Turkish patterned fabrics, the decorative structure of which fully met the aesthetic needs of the Russian court, secular clothing and church vestments were sewn, as well as many items of the ceremonial palace interior. Horse blankets were made from them, saddles were upholstered with them, scabbards of cold weapons, the wrong side of shields and bracers were pasted over. Numerous Turkish gold cufflinks (metal, often gold or silver plaques) with diamonds, rubies and emeralds were also brought to Russia as a kind of "semi-finished product".

The exhibition also displayed items used by the Russian Orthodox Church during solemn services. These are the luxurious vestments of Russian hierarchs, fabrics and details of jewelry for which were often made in the Sultan's workshops. For example, the unique shoulder of the feloni (the upper liturgical vestment of an Orthodox priest without sleeves) with magnificent Russian embroidery with pearls, is decorated, for example, with a panagia of Turkish origin.

The greatest interest among the visitors of the exhibition was caused by such rare exhibits as the pectoral cross of Tsar Peter Alekseevich (worn on the chest), made of gold and precious stones by casting, carving and chasing; the home caftan of Patriarch Nikon - made of silk, cotton and Turkish satin; a gold openwork cufflink studded with precious stones-a gift the Turkish sultan to the Russian court. The exhibition also featured works of Russian masters made for the royal court, including ceremonial weapons, dishes, etc.As the experts who prepared the exhibition told us, in many cases, the masters who performed them from the Kremlin workshops creatively interpreted the achievements of Turkish art. For example, the patterns of Turkish fabrics were repeated in Russian ornamental embroidery. Many Moscow jewelers used Turkish samples in their work. And in the predominance of green enamel of various shades on gold items made by Kremlin jewelers, one can clearly see the well-known influence of the art of Istanbul masters, whose products were brought to the royal court and were very much appreciated in Moscow.

Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey E. Gunay in an exclusive interview with the magazine "Asia and Africa Today" highly appreciated the exposition of the exhibition. According to him, it laid a good foundation for a good tradition in Russian-Turkish relations - exhibition exchange between museums in Russia and Turkey. E. Y. Gagarina expressed hope for the continuation of such an exchange, telling the correspondent of the magazine "Asia and Africa Today" about her impressions of the exhibition in Istanbul:"...Cultural projects bring peoples closer together and promote mutual understanding. Our exhibition shows how respectful and correct the relations between our countries were. And this example will contribute to the further development of Russian-Turkish relations in a peaceful and positive way."

Many of the exhibits at the Topkapi Palace show a fruitful dialogue between two cultures that perfectly coexisted in the realities of the 17th century - an era when Russia and Turkey were linked by close diplomatic and trade ties, as well as tolerance and mutual respect of peoples for whom the difference in religion did not become an insurmountable obstacle at that time. It is no coincidence that the general director of the Topkapi Palace Museum, a well-known Turkish scientist, Professor I. Ortayli, said in an interview with our magazine that "the Kremlin exhibition once again confirms the truth - Russia and Turkey are forever together."

A. KORITSKY

Our sobkor in Turkey

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