Andrey Kirillovich Rasumovsky as a Patron of Fine Arts. Some Materials of his Letters of the 1790s From the Archive of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire

Abstract

The first published letters of Andrey Kirillovich Razumovsky (1752–1836) from the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire (AVPRI), together with other already known documents, contain new information about the broad interests of the outstanding Russian diplomat and patron of fine arts. These interests included not only the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, but also the visual arts, literature, and, in particular, Slavic studies. Particularly noteworthy is the story about the patronage given by Razumovsky to the “artist Müller” (Count Joseph Deim) in the sale of a large collection of casts from ancient statues to Catherine II.

The article is dedicated to Mikhail Alexandrovich Saponov in honor of his glorious anniversary.

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