Crimean Tableaux of Catherine II’s Court as the Visual Record of the Russian Empire’s Southern Expansion

This article analyzes celebrations of Russian military victories over the Ottoman Turks during Catherine II’s reign on examples pictures (tableaux) featured in fireworks, illuminations, triumphal arches, processions, and instances live theater. Performing Crimean conquest via these artistic displays, from early 1770s—the time when Crimea first begins to appear them—and until Catherine’s final years, served as a way incorporating peninsula part imperial design announcing Tatar latest member Empire’s supporting cast. paper argues that Crimea’s changing status ceremonial culture court is reflected tableaux with their focus territory (Crimea) opposed its people (Crimean Tatars).