Latvian manor houses from a heritage conservation perspective

The juxtaposition of historical and contemporary photographs of selected examples of manor house architecture in Latvia shown in the exhibition exemplifies how the rich cultural heritage of this region has been dealt with since the abrupt demise of the German-Baltic way of life in the first quarter of the 20th century. The following manor houses are presented:

Neu-Autz / Jaunauce, Groß-Roop / Straupe, Behrs-Würzau / Bērvircava, Adsel / Gaujiena, Asuppen / Aizupe, Dickeln / Dikļi, Dubenalken / Dunalka, Burtneck / Burtnieki, Durben / Durbe, Lemburg / Mālpils, Edwahlen / Ēdole, Lesten / Lestene, Kautzemünde / Kaucminde, and Kukschen / Kukšas

In recent digital photographs, former Latvian monument conservator Vitolds Mašnovskis documents the current inventory, condition, and functional changes of the greatly reduced number of manor houses and estates and, where possible, the associated farm buildings. In many cases, historical image sources from the collection of Baron Friedrich von Wolff-Lettien (1883–1943) at the Herder Institute can be used for comparison. The historical photo documentation of manor houses dates back to the initiative of the Riga Society for History and Antiquities and the architect Heinz Pirang (1876-1936; “Das baltische Herrenhaus” [The Baltic Manor House], 1926-1930).

With their work, both documentary photographers join the ranks of amateur photographers with a strong connection to culture and their homeland who, since the late 19th century, have been capturing the country, its people, nature, and monuments of all kinds in photographs on their own initiative. Just as the “Livonian Local History Association” had counted on their active participation in 1911 when building up a photographic collection, the society also called on “everyone who loves their homeland” to actively participate in this project by sending in relevant photographs. The Wolff collection therefore also includes photographs by other authors.