Additions to Manor Murals with Themes of Antiquity in Estonia: Aruküla

Abstract

The Aruküla Manor was founded in the second half of the 17th century. Its owners were among the most outstanding noble families in Estonia – from the middle of the 18th century, the manor belonged to von Knorrings, along with the Ervita, Udeva and Norra manors; and from the 1820s until its expropriation it belonged to the von Toll family. The current Empire-style appearance of the building dates back to the von Toll era. A thorough historical survey of the manor’s history was compiled by Ants Hein in 2000.2 Based on his information, there were two great building eras in Aruküla. In the late 18th century, at the initiative of Fromhold Gotthard von Knorring, a grand manor complex was constructed, but the household fell into neglect after the death of Karoline, the lady of the manor, in 1798. And sometime after that, a fire broke out at the manor. The main building was restored, but it seems the renovation was quite careless. In 1812, control of the manor was assumed by Frommhold Gotthard’s oldest son Karl Georg. The writings of Theodor von Bernhard, who was a man of letters and Karl Georg’s stepson, pro-