Bulletin du Musée National de Varsovie (40.1999)

to Museums and Collections in Poland, accompanied by an extensive historical
introduction to Polish collectors and the creation of the nation’s museums.
Updated and re-edited several times, it remains the best Polish publication
of its kind.

Lorentz was deeply involved in the International world of scholarship and
culture, and thus madę an enormous contribution to the field of modern
museum management both in Poland and abroad. He served as chairman of the
Polish National Commission of UNESCO and as chairman of the Polish
National Committee of the ICOM. An honorary member of the International
Committee of Art History (CIHA), the International Council of Museums
(ICOM), as well as the honorary president of the Centre International d’Etudes
pour la Conservation et le Restauration des Biens cultureles in Romę
(ICCROM), vice president from 1959 to 1965, and president from 1966-
1970. In addition he was a member of many foreign scholarly institutions,
including the Academy of Fine Arts in Vemce (1957), The Academy of Sciences
in Bordeaux (1958), and the Senate of the Accademia Nazionale d’Arte
Moderna in Romę (1982). Lorentz held the title of doctor of laws honoris
causa of the Universities of Bordeaux and Nancy. He was the recipient of many
awards, including the Herder Prize (Vienna 1964), the Jurzykowski Award
(New York, 1979), and the Piero Gazzola Award, presented every three years
by the ICOMOS. He received many orders and decorations, including
Comntander of the Order of the Three Stars of the Republic of Latvia, the
Order Corona ddtalia, Commander of the French Legion of Honor Third
Class, the Order of Service to the Republic of Italy, the Austrian Order of
Service, The Belgian Order of King Leopold II, and the Mexican Order of the
Aztec Eagle.

From the rich literary legacy left by Lorentz on the subject of museums, the
following words from his essay “Reflection of The World” from the series The
Philosophy ot Museums, can be treated as a mission statement: “But in spite
of all the difficulties...we cannot resign from the view that the main directive
for museums of all sizes and kinds is that their activity should be directed by
the rule of the greatest objectivity, to the extent humanly possible, as witnesses
in court swear to tell the truth and only the truth, and as docotral candidates
testify in their university oath - to work ‘Non sordidi lucri causa, sed quod
magis veritas propagetur.’ It is thus that they will find a common language and
contribute best to the building of a modern Tower of Babel, a symbol of the co-
operation of all humanity for the accomplishment of its most sublime goals.”

Translated by Robert Kirkland