This article examines the methodological foundations of visual source theory through the case study of the fine arts collections of the State Museum-Reserve “Samarkand.” The research is based on documents of the State Museum-Reserve “Samarkand,” inventory records, and electronic catalogues. A total of 3,477 museum collection items were analyzed, including graphic works (KP – 1,266 items; IKP – 716 items) and paintings (KP – 1,128 items; IKP – 367 items).

The article distinguishes between visual sources (paintings, graphic works, sketches, portraits, and miniatures) and audiovisual sources (film documents and video recordings), and substantiates their epistemological characteristics as historical sources, particularly in relation to the foundations and processes of historical knowledge. The collection, comprising works by more than 170 authors active from the late nineteenth century to the second half of the twentieth century, was examined using iconographic, historical-comparative, and provenance-based approaches to establish the origin and source history of the objects.

visual sources, audiovisual sources, museum collection, fine arts, iconographic analysis, painting, graphic art, State Museum-Reserve “Samarkand,” methodology of historical source studies.

I. Birlamchi manbalar

«Samarqand» davlat muzey-qoʻriqxonasi. Fond hujjatlari.

II. Ilmiy manbalar

Witek P. Methodological Problems of Visual History // Res Historica: Journal of the History Department. 2012. – Vol. 33.

URL:https://reshistorica.journals.umcs.pl/rh/article/view/245

Grant F., Jordanova L. Writing Visual Histories. – London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020. – 256 p. ISBN 978-1-350-02345-1.

Visibility Reclaimed. Publics of the First Public Museums: III. Visual Sources // Prado Conference Materials. – Madrid, 2024. URL: https://www.arc.usi.ch/en/node/13912

Arthist.net. CFP: International Conference. Publics of the First Public Museums. Visual Sources. – 2024. URL: https://arthist.net/archive/43252

J.Ismailova, A.Ismailov, L.Levteyeva Muzeylar tarixi va ijtimoiy hayotga integratsiyasi // Oʻzbekiston tarixi davlat muzeyi xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy anjuman toʻplami. – Toshkent, 2024. URL: https://uniwork.buxdu.uz/resurs/12761.pdf

Oʻzbekistonda muzey pedagogikasining shakllanishi va rivojlanishi // Jamiyat va innovatsiyalar. – Toshkent: Inscience.uz. URL: https://inscience.uz/index.php/socinov

Buxoro davlat universiteti muzey-laboratoriyasi tarixi va faoliyati // BuxDU Ilmiy axboroti. – 2024. URL: https://uniwork.buxdu.uz/resurs/12651.pdf

Захидов П.Ш. Архитектурное наследие Самарканда. – Ташкент: Узбекистан, 1996.

Сухарева О.А. Бухаро XIX – начала ХХ вв.: позднефеодалнй город и эго население. – Ташкент: Фан, 1966.

«Samarqand» davlat muzey-qoʻriqxonasi foto va fotonegativlar fondi. – Samarqand: 1930–2023. (54 185 ta saqlash birligi.)