Juliusa Schottländer´s Parimonium publicum

Abstract

Julius Schottländer (1835–1911), a figure often referred to by historians and art or architectural historians, is undoubtedly a figure to whom Wroclaw owes very much concerning the formation of a new kind of urban structure. Not much can be said about Juliuses’ childhood or adolescence. It is typiclal, that although his father Löbe was a wealthy man, 15 year old Julius already started to run his own business, in the beginning he traded corn, later provided supplies for the
army and in the end he opened a banking firm, which soon jointly created the Silesian Company for Real Estate. Julius was also highly interested in affairs of the city, which
he gave several charities, amongst with the South Park.
Taking in account the entire acceptance of the activities of the Jewish entrepreneur, it is surprising, that no researcher ever took up the assessment of his achievements. One could argue, that the main obstacle in assessing the achievements
critically, lies in the absence of an adequate/suitable perspective, which would enable a proper look to his achievements and a judgement of his position in regard to the
beneficiaries. It seems, that in this case the Roman term patrocinium publicum or civic patronage can be helpful.