Project for the 21st anniversary of Belarusian-Latvian diplomatic relations
On April 10, 2013, at 16:00, the exhibition hall "DUKHAVSKOY KRUGLIK" will become a venue for celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Latvia. This occasion is marked by the presentation of the project "COLLECTION OF DRAWINGS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF LIVONIA BY JOHANN CHRISTOPH BROTZE IN THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA".
The presentation will be attended by the Consul of the Republic of Latvia in Vitebsk, Dagnija LACE-ATE, the First Deputy General Director of the state institution "Vitebsk Culture Center", Alexander SIDORENKO, and the Director of the Academic Library of the University of Latvia, Venta KOCERE.
The author of the collection, Johann Christoph BROTZE, in addition to his successful pedagogical practice, had two serious hobbies. The first of them is the history of Riga, Livonia, Courland, Estonia, and Polish Inflanty. To comprehend historical evidence, he sought to gather comprehensive historical facts: he was interested in the details of economic development, the specifics of administrative structure, and the characteristics of political figures.
BROTZE's second passion was drawing, which organically complemented his historical research. Johann Christoph preserved for posterity sketches of unique buildings of his time – churches, castles, parks, estates, and residential buildings in Riga, Livonia, Courland, and Estonia, many of which had not survived by the beginning of the 21st century. The drawings captured representatives of various ethnic groups inhabiting Riga in the 1770s–1790s, and the specifics of their clothing. The artist left a collection of drawings, with amazing accuracy copied coats of arms, coins, city plans, old engravings, and technical innovations of his time.
BROTZE created his drawings using ink, watercolor, or pen on paper toned with watercolors. A separate stand will feature residents of Vitebsk, Ludza Castle, which was part of the Vitebsk Governorate, as well as the first documented trade agreement between the territories of Latvia and Belarus (1229). Over the decades, BROTZE's comments to his sketches transformed his not always perfect, but touching works into unique historical documents.
You can get acquainted with the project "COLLECTION OF DRAWINGS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF LIVONIA BY JOHANN CHRISTOPH BROTZE AT THE LATVIAN UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC LIBRARY" in the Dukhovskoy Kruglyk (13A/1 Frunze Ave.) until April 25, 2013.