The Embassy as an Extension of the Diplomatic Persona

What is it about?

In 1803, ambassador of the Russian Empire to Austria Count Andrey Kirillovich Razumovsky (1752-1836) ordered court architect Louis Montoyer to build him a palace in Vienna that would serve as his Embassy and private residence. The Razumovsky Palace became one the most famous places of diplomatic exchange in Europe, notable for its subversive approach to Napoleon’s expansive politics. Between 1807 and 1814, the palace became the meeting place of a diverse set of anti-Napoleonic aristocrats and intellectuals. Their informal gatherings in the ambassador’s residence and ancien régime nostalgia created a lasting bond that laid the basis for a new conservative consensus that was later confirmed by Congress of Vienna and the Holy Alliance. However, the Razumovskypalace was not only a place of transnational informal diplomatic exchange. Just as importantly, Razumovsky used this place for local cultural engagement. This article illustrates how the Embassy building combined diverse diplomatic, cultural and social functions before and during the Congress of Vienna. The grandeur of the Razumovsky Palace furthered the Russian Empire’s diplomatic interests and its openness to Viennese artists and intellectuals also significantly deepened the ambassador’s personal connections with the city where he was posted. The last part of the article will explore the role of the Razumovsky Palace as a determinant factor in the ambassador’s decision to leave diplomatic service and remain in Vienna.

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