M. Daraškevičius was participated at the international conference “Visual and Material Culture Exchange across the Baltic Sea Region, 1750-1850”, organised by Indiana University Europe Gateway, 22-24 March 2018, Berlin.

Organisers: prof. Michelle Facos (Indiana University-Bloomington) and Bart Pushawrengia (University of Maryland).

M. Daraškevičius presented short lecture: From the East to the West: the Influence of the German Architectural Print Media on the Lithuanian Manor Houses in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century
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Abstract:

From the East to the West: the Influence of the German Architectural Print Media on the Lithuanian Manor Houses in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century

Key words: German architectural print media, Lithuania, Russia, manor house, architecture, interior, furniture, nineteenth century

After the partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795, Lithuania did not exist as an independent state (the Russian Empire gained a large share of the country), but throughout the 19th century, the Lithuanian nobility retained its orientation toward European tradition. The aim of this exploratory research is to survey the German print media that circulated amongst the Lithuanian nobility in the first half of the nineteenth century, and to analyse its influence on the architecture and interior decoration of the manor houses. The research is based on in-situ sources, iconographic material, periodicals and ego-documents, and it will be conducted through comparative and synthesis methods. It is hoped that the results could posit a view of how the nobility during the period of the occupation by the Russian Empire stayed traditionally Europe-oriented and kept strong and direct ties with Europe. The research will also exhibit how the German architectural print media was one of the most preferred sources of inspiration among the Lithuanian nobility and will demonstrate how it was reflected in the architecture of the manor houses and their interior decoration.