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Raadi Manor, lying in the close vicinity
of Tartu, was famous for its rich art collections, library and saloon parties.
Many generations of von Lipharts were important mediators for communication
between Tartu University and other Baltic German educated circles, and
the St.Petersburg nobility. Raadi manor's age of prosperity is considered
to be the 19th century, when close ties were forged with many musicians
and art prominents. The park of Raadi manor delighted the wife of Czar
Paul I, Maria Fjodorovna.
In the 19th century a decline in Baltic German manor culture is noticable. One reason for this was undoubtedly its relative closedness. This tendency is visible in Raadi Manor as well: the perceptions of good taste and style were lost, which shows in the mis-matched reconstruction of the manor at the turn of century. |
The Lipharts left Estonia during the First World War and took most of their collections along later. The manor main building became the property of the Tartu University. From 1922 to 1944 it was used by the Estonian National Museum.
