Fantastic animals. How to find them in the library? Lecture by Katarzyna Drozdowska-Sawińska and exhibition of the collections

It is worth going to the library in search of knowledge and proven information. But in addition to the multitude of facts in the book collection, we will also find evidence of human imagination and dreams of a world in which the real meets the fantastic.

One-legged and multi-headed creatures, dragons and hydra can be found, among others, in the works of Jan Jonston (1603—1675), a doctor, naturalist, educator and polyhistorian, author of works devoted to animals (“Theatrum universale omnium animalium”, Heilbrunn 1755—1757) and plants (“Dhrodna Endrographia”, Frankfurt 1662).

During the meeting in the Raczyński Library we will show old books in which our ancestors collected knowledge about the world derived from observations, but also legends and stories. And yet, the unknown can always become a breeding ground for imagination!

Katarzyna Drozdowska-Sawińska from the Education Department of the National Museum in Poznań will talk about mysterious animals from old books and works of art.

As every year, during St. Francis Week there will be a lot going on in the branches of the Raczyński Library throughout Poznań.

Free admission