Artur Grottger was one of the most prominent Polish Romantic painters. He was born in 1837 in Ottyniowice in Eastern Galicia (now Otynevychi, Ukraine), and despite his very short life (he died at 30 years old in 1867), he became one of the most prominent Polish artists of the 19th century. He lived during the… Continue reading Artur Grottger: between art, political engagement and love story
Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustible liquid derived from petroleum. Its discovery is generally attributed to Canadian geologist Abraham Gesner who distilled kerosene from bituminous coal and oil shale in 1846. To obtain kerosene distilled from oil, however, one has to wait a few years and travel to the other side of the world: to… Continue reading The Habsburg origins of the kerosene lamp
Should we make a travel guide dedicated to ‘regions that no longer exist’, Galicia would certainly be among the most popular. Indeed, not only did this province arise from the partitioning of a former state, the Polish-Lithuanian Confederation, but it disappeared along with another bygone empire, the Habsburg Empire, of which it was a part.… Continue reading Habsburg Galicia: troubled and wonderful diversity
Start your journey in the Extinguished Countries!
Get a free chapter from our first guidebook “Republic of Venice” and join our community!
