The 'History of Modern German Art' by Count Athanasius Raczynski (1788-1874) was the first overview of German art in the 19th century. It is an early example of historical-critical art history and fluctuates in many respects between tradition and modernity. Count Athanasius Raczynski, a diplomat from Greater Poland in the service of the Prussian state, was a collector, connoisseur and writer on art, a lifelong autodidact whose work had a transnational perspective. This study examines the biographical and cultural contexts that led to the publication of the 'History'. The Count's correspondence with artists of the Düsseldorf and Munich Schools, which were maintained close contact with Raczynski as he worked on his book, is published here for the first time in an extensive appendix. ukryj opis