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DOI Artikel:Grauer, Elise F.: Bridging the gap: Count Athanazy Raczyński and his galleries in Poland and Prussia
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.28199#0022
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ELISE F. GRAUER
Despite Athanazy’s decision against displaying his collection in
Poznań, he continued to be involved in the cultural life of the town.60
The gallery building was now used for exhibitions of contemporary paint-
ings organised by the Kunstverein (Art Association) of Poznań.61
Founded in 1836, it was the first Kunstverein in the whole of Poland and
one of the very few associations in the Great Duchy to have both
Prussian and Polish members. Raczyfiski’s crucial involvement with the
Kunstverein - he served as a member of the selection committee and a
contributor to catalogues - demonstrates his commitment to such
Prussian-Polish reconciliation in the cultural realm.
WITHIN PRUSSIAN SOCIETY - THE GALLERY UNTER
DEN LINDEN IN BERLIN
In contrast to Poland, the Prussian state had its royal picture
collection, which from 1830 onwards was accessible to the public in
Berlin’s first purpose-built museum.62 Thus, Raczyfiski’s ‘royal’ collection
was not needed for official use, which brought about a change in his
collecting policy.
Raczyfiski’s house in Berlin was situated at 21 Unter den Linden,63
the city’s most prominent boulevard and the main westerly approach to
the Stadtschloß (residence). Raczyński had acquired the building in 1834
when he had returned from Copenhagen. Schinkel extended the baroque
house and created a gallery space.
The hanging of the pictures was completed on 2 August 1836.64
A portrait of the Raczyński family in the gallery room gives a detailed
view of the disjulay of the pictures in the gallery. Moreover, the portrait
60 In 1834 Raczyński wanted to sell the gallery building to the town, which, however
lacked money. Until the alteration of the building in 1845/46 exhibitions took place in the
gallery. Finally the hotel Dresdner Hof was arranged in the building.
61 Magdalena Warkoczewska, ‘Towarzystwo Sztuk Pięknych w Poznaniu w latach
1837-1848’, in Studia Muzealne, 9, (1972), pp. 7-20.
62 Schinkel’s Royal Museum was opened on 3 August 1830. It has been named Altes
Museum (Old Museum) since the erection of the Neues Museum (New Museum) in the
mid-19th century.
63 The site later became no. 36 Unter den Linden. Since the end of the Second World
War the house no longer exists. [Margarethe Kühn (ed.), Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Lebens-
werk, 11, part 3, Bauten für Wissenschaft, Verwaltung, Heer, Wohnbau und Denkmäler,
Munich 1981, pp. 237-238],
04 ‘My gallery of paintings is finished. Today, I completed the placement of the paint-
ings. Tomorrow at the King’s birthday I will celebrate its inauguration’. [Raczyński
diaries, entry for 2 August 1836],
ELISE F. GRAUER
Despite Athanazy’s decision against displaying his collection in
Poznań, he continued to be involved in the cultural life of the town.60
The gallery building was now used for exhibitions of contemporary paint-
ings organised by the Kunstverein (Art Association) of Poznań.61
Founded in 1836, it was the first Kunstverein in the whole of Poland and
one of the very few associations in the Great Duchy to have both
Prussian and Polish members. Raczyfiski’s crucial involvement with the
Kunstverein - he served as a member of the selection committee and a
contributor to catalogues - demonstrates his commitment to such
Prussian-Polish reconciliation in the cultural realm.
WITHIN PRUSSIAN SOCIETY - THE GALLERY UNTER
DEN LINDEN IN BERLIN
In contrast to Poland, the Prussian state had its royal picture
collection, which from 1830 onwards was accessible to the public in
Berlin’s first purpose-built museum.62 Thus, Raczyfiski’s ‘royal’ collection
was not needed for official use, which brought about a change in his
collecting policy.
Raczyfiski’s house in Berlin was situated at 21 Unter den Linden,63
the city’s most prominent boulevard and the main westerly approach to
the Stadtschloß (residence). Raczyński had acquired the building in 1834
when he had returned from Copenhagen. Schinkel extended the baroque
house and created a gallery space.
The hanging of the pictures was completed on 2 August 1836.64
A portrait of the Raczyński family in the gallery room gives a detailed
view of the disjulay of the pictures in the gallery. Moreover, the portrait
60 In 1834 Raczyński wanted to sell the gallery building to the town, which, however
lacked money. Until the alteration of the building in 1845/46 exhibitions took place in the
gallery. Finally the hotel Dresdner Hof was arranged in the building.
61 Magdalena Warkoczewska, ‘Towarzystwo Sztuk Pięknych w Poznaniu w latach
1837-1848’, in Studia Muzealne, 9, (1972), pp. 7-20.
62 Schinkel’s Royal Museum was opened on 3 August 1830. It has been named Altes
Museum (Old Museum) since the erection of the Neues Museum (New Museum) in the
mid-19th century.
63 The site later became no. 36 Unter den Linden. Since the end of the Second World
War the house no longer exists. [Margarethe Kühn (ed.), Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Lebens-
werk, 11, part 3, Bauten für Wissenschaft, Verwaltung, Heer, Wohnbau und Denkmäler,
Munich 1981, pp. 237-238],
04 ‘My gallery of paintings is finished. Today, I completed the placement of the paint-
ings. Tomorrow at the King’s birthday I will celebrate its inauguration’. [Raczyński
diaries, entry for 2 August 1836],