Download or read book Athanasius Raczyński (1788–1874). Aristocrat, Diplomat, and Patron of the Arts written by Michał Mencfel and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2022-04-04 with total page 570 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book depicts the long rich life and wide ranging work of Count Athanasius Raczyński (1788–1874). By exploring his complex personality, his processes of thought and his accomplishments, it reveals a man at once a wealthy aristocrat, a Pole in the Prussian diplomatic service, an active participant in and perceptive observer and critical commentator on political life, a connoisseur and art collector of European renown, and the author of ground breaking studies on German and Portuguese art – in short a distinguished and fascinating nineteenth century figure.