On November 1, 2017, the Presidential Library will open the exhibition "Expanses of Russia in Color Photography by Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky" in Dresden. Photos from the Presidential Library will be displayed at the German-Russian Institute of Culture till January 15, 2018. Earlier held in Berlin, this exhibition will proceed to Hamburg and other German cities after Dresden.
40 works by the founder of color photography, the well-known chemist and inventor Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky, were selected and prepared for the exposition. In total, about 2 thousand digitized photos taken by the master were collected in the electronic library of the library. To date, this is the most complete collection of Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky's works in Russia.
Unique natural landscapes, architectural and cultural monuments, scenes of everyday life and work of various walks of the population of the Russian Empire are captured in the breakthrough photos. In addition, the exhibition will present photographs of the territories that were once part of the Russian Empire (modern Finland, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia).
These pictures were taken by the master during his travels around the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century. Following the decree of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky made dozens of trips to remote corners of this country. He set out to carry out a grandiose project - to create the first ever color portrait of the Russian Empire.
As a rule, the photographs were taken in the summertime, with preliminary processing carried out on the spot on the same day, often till late night. If the result was satisfactory and re-shooting was not needed, the expedition went on. 
The works by Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky are of great historical as well as cultural value: they provided a great basis for restorers to recreate what was once lost.
"An important goal pursued by color photography is to leave a document for the future. We have at hand a precious means of saving all the ruinous monuments from oblivion," the pioneering photographer said. After a hundred years, his words have become reality.
It should be noted that the richest fund of the Presidential Library, which has more than 580 thousand depository items today, keeps not only the widely represented creative legacy of Prokudin-Gorsky, but also materials about the life and work of the famous photographer. These include documentaries, postcards, electronic copies of rare professional magazines and research works of the early 20^th century.
In the framework of the exhibition opening in the format of the Dresden-St. Petersburg TV-bridge, the round table "Photo Take on Russia: From the Origins to Nowadays" will be held. The topics regarding the preservation of the historical and modern photographic heritage of both Russia and Germany will be discussed at the event.
Accreditation of media representatives to the event in the Presidential Library (3, Senate Square, Saint Petersburg) will take place till 3 pm on October 31, 2017. 
Credential claims should be sent to Alla Ratnikova, Presidential Library press service, the e-mail address ratnikova@prlib.ru, tel: +7 (812) 305-16-21 (ext. 233) and +7 (953) 370-38-10.