| Abstract [eng] |
The thesis investigates cultural life of Grodno, which in the second half of the 18th century (1765-1793) was considered to be one of the most prominent center of the Grand Dutchy of Lithuania. Selected research period is framed by two dates: Antanas Tyzenhauzas’ (1733-1785) appointment as the Starosta of Grodno and the year of the last Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The analysis of different manifestations of cultural life in Grodno and their coherency with experiences of West and Central Europe in the second part of the 18th century, as well as with antagonistic ideas of the Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment is presented. The research examines cultural and political texts written in the second part of the 18th century in Grodno, actualizing not only the history of writing but also of reading. The concept of a palimpsest is invoked as a method of presented analysis. It is not used metaphorically, but in the sense of a method analysis. The authors who left significant records in the palimpsest of Grodno are presented in the study: the Starosta of Grodno Tyzenhauzas, Jewish people, the Russian Orthodox Old Believers, and patriotically minded deputies of the 1793 Grodno Sejm. Their texts were read by the late 18th century memorialists, poets, and artists - the reviews of those readers are equated with the writing initiatives and are involved into the same analysis. |
