UT Library’s Collection of Oriental Manuscripts is Introduced on Art Wednesday

The small but outstanding collection of Oriental manuscripts of the UT Library is introduced on Art Wednesday, held in the University of Tartu Museum on 18 January at 17.15.

Mare Rand, a long-time UT Library staff member, explains the subject of the Art Wednesday: “The Arabic, Turkish and Persian manuscripts and documents reached Tartu mostly in the first half of the 19th century, when people brought them back to Europe from their expeditions, tourist trips, trade and mission journeys, but also took them as war spoils. The first Oriental manuscripts were gifted to the University of Tartu already during the preparations for its reopening in 1801.” Mare Rand has thoroughly studied the manuscript collection of the library.

The largest and the most valuable part of the manuscript collection arrived in the library as a donation from the inheritance of Otto Friedrich von Richter (1791–1816) from the Vastse-Kuuste manor. Young Richter had been deeply involved in studying Oriental cultures during his university years and had acquired several precious manuscripts already at that time. He travelled a lot during his life and collected Oriental manuscripts, publications, artefacts and rocks. “Richter’s collections were given to the University of Tartu by his father in 1819–1823. On Art Wednesday, we have a wonderful chance to get a good overview of the formation and present status of the UT Library collection of Oriental manuscripts,” says Rand.

Art Wednesday is related to the exhibition “A Journey to the Orient.  Otto Friedrich von Richter’s (1791–1816) travels and collection”. All participants can visit the exhibition before the lecture.  

Additional information:

kunstimuuseum.ut.ee