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Atanazy Raczyński

1788 – 1874

Polish diplomat and art historian

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About Atanazy Raczyński

Lived 1788 – 1874 (aged 86). Atanazy Raczyński was a Russian and Polish diplomat, art historian, politician, art collector and military personnel.

Count Atanazy Raczyński (; 2 May 1788 – 21 August 1874) was a Polish count (hrabia) and diplomat in Prussian service. He was a noted art critic and built a notable collection of paintings during his long stays in major European metropolises.

He wrote Histoire de l'Art Moderne en Allemagne (1837-1841), an important source for the study of the contemporary German painting.

During his stay in the Kingdom of Portugal (1842-1848), Raczyński conducted extensive research on local art and its history and published Les Arts en Portugal (Paris, 1846) and Dictionnaire Historico-Artistique du Portugal (Paris, 1847); his critical insight on issues often little recognised or described before him make his works be considered in Portugal to be the first serious modern works on Portuguese art history, having since become an invaluable point of reference for later generations of scholars.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
European University Viadrina
Positions held
Member of the Prussian House of Lords, Prussian ambassador to Spain
Awards
Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari
Also known as
Athanasius Raczynski, Count Atanazy Raczyński, Atanazy, hrabia Raczyński, Athanasius, Atanazy Raczyński Count
moreCount Raczyński

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Atanazy Raczyński's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Atanazy Raczyński?

Polish diplomat and art historian (1788-1874)

When was Atanazy Raczyński born?

Atanazy Raczyński was born on 2 May 1788 in Poznań.

When did Atanazy Raczyński die?

Atanazy Raczyński died on 21 August 1874 in Berlin.

What was Atanazy Raczyński's occupation?

Atanazy Raczyński was a diplomat, art historian, politician, art collector and military personnel.

What nationality was Atanazy Raczyński?

Atanazy Raczyński was Russian and Polish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Atanazy Raczyński

· Wikidata: Q215697

· DBpedia: Atanazy Raczyński

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Atanazy Raczyński. https://biography.guide/atanazy-raczynski/

MLA: "Atanazy Raczyński." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/atanazy-raczynski/.

Chicago: "Atanazy Raczyński." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/atanazy-raczynski/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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