Scientific workplace of J. N. von Mittrowský at the Dolní Rožínka chateau

18th century 

The work of Count Johann Nepomuk von Mittrowský (1757–1799) is associated not only with Brno, but also with the chateau in Dolní Rožínka, where von Mittrowský often stayed after 1782 following the death of his father. Mittrowský’s remarkable mineralogical cabinet was stored at the chateau in Dolní Rožínka, where he worked on a comprehensive book on mineralogy and had the Templ forest park created nearby. 

 

An enlightenment thinker, promoter of education, science, tolerance and humanity, Johann Nepomuk von Mittrowský took over the chateau in Dolní Rožínka after leaving his post in the Imperial arms for several years. After the death of his father and taking possession of the estate, however, he decided to devote himself fully to scientific research. He embarked on a number of research expeditions not only around Europe (in 1784, for instance, he explored and described Vesuvius), about also to Moravia. The aim of these journeys was to describe the local flora and minerals. Count von Mittrowský became famous for his study of the mineral springs of Moravia.

Jan Nepomuk Mittrowský was also well known for his own landscape park projects. He had one of his plans carried out near the chateau in Dolní Rožínka. This forest park was called Templ and included small pieces of architecture on the theme of Freemasonry, of which Mittrowský was a great supporter. These included an Egyptian obelisk and a Temple of the Enlightenment, both of which still stand in the park today. The park also contained statues of famous natural scientists; another remarkable feature was the lightning conductor standing in the middle of the forest. 

Mittrowský’s extensive mineralogical cabinet was stored at the chateau in Dolní Rožínka; part of it was later purchased by Count Hugo Franz Salm-Reifferscheidt. Mittrowský based his mineralogical classification on his description of minerals based on their outer attributes (as opposed to their inner attributes, i.e. chemical analysis). Count Mittrowský also conducted mineralogical experiments at Dolní Rožínka and his early death in 1799 could have been related to his study of uranium, a deposit of which was located underground not far from Rožínka.

 

References

Kroupa, J.: Alchymie štěstí. Brno 2006, s. 126–132, 154–181.

Kroupa, J.: Jan Nepomuk Mittrovský – svobodný zednář a vědec. In: Beneš, Z. Duchem, ne mečem: Fakta, úvahy, souvislosti. Praha 2003, s. 169–178.

Wurzbach, C.: Mittrowsky, Johann Nepomuk Graf von. In: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich. sv. 18, 1868, s. 394–396. 

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