Franz Dominic Grassi
Encyclopedia
Franz Dominic Grassi was a merchant in Leipzig with Italian descent. Through his extensive heritage to the city it was possible to construct numerous monuments and buildings.
and immigrated to Leipzig. After his commercial training and numerous trips abroad, he founded his own trading firm for Russian products, indigo dye
and tropical fruits in Leipzig. After the death of his father in 1847, he operated mostly in speculation and exchange business and after the death of his mother in 1854, he retired completely from active commercial life.
Grassi remained a bachelor all his life and was regarded as an original of Leipzig. He was a theater and horse lover, and therefore one of the founders of the Leipzig racing club. He also supported Leipzig citizens, who were in emergency situations. In Leipzig Grassi also popularly called "The Wood Sucker" because of the habit of chewing on a toothpick.
Grassi is buried at the "Alter Johannisfriedhof" (Old St. John's Cemetery).
(approx. 23 million euro). From this property numerous construction projects, parks and monuments have been supported, some of which were destroyed during World War II (New Gewandhaus
and the museums on Augustusplatz
. Of the remaining buildings is the Grassi Museum
at Johannisplatz, the "Old Grassi Museum" (now Leipzig city library) and the Mendebrunnen
mention. Furthermore parts of the money was used for the erection of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal
, and the monuments for Johann Sebastian Bach
and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
.
Since 2002 the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Germany and the TU Chemnitz
endow the "Franz Dominic Grassi Prize" for services to promote the German-Italian trade and economic relations.
Life
He was born as son of Franz Josef Grassi (merchant and financier) and his spouse Rossi. The family originate from central ItalyCentral Italy
Central Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics , a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency...
and immigrated to Leipzig. After his commercial training and numerous trips abroad, he founded his own trading firm for Russian products, indigo dye
Indigo dye
Indigo dye is an organic compound with a distinctive blue color . Historically, indigo was a natural dye extracted from plants, and this process was important economically because blue dyes were once rare. Nearly all indigo dye produced today — several thousand tons each year — is synthetic...
and tropical fruits in Leipzig. After the death of his father in 1847, he operated mostly in speculation and exchange business and after the death of his mother in 1854, he retired completely from active commercial life.
Grassi remained a bachelor all his life and was regarded as an original of Leipzig. He was a theater and horse lover, and therefore one of the founders of the Leipzig racing club. He also supported Leipzig citizens, who were in emergency situations. In Leipzig Grassi also popularly called "The Wood Sucker" because of the habit of chewing on a toothpick.
Grassi is buried at the "Alter Johannisfriedhof" (Old St. John's Cemetery).
Legacy
Although Grassi largely considered in his testament even distant relatives, godchildren and servants, he left the city a fortune of 2.327 million Gold MarkGerman gold mark
The Goldmark was the currency used in the German Empire from 1873 to 1914.-History:Before unification, the different German states issued a variety of different currencies, though most were linked to the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin containing 16⅔ grams of pure silver...
(approx. 23 million euro). From this property numerous construction projects, parks and monuments have been supported, some of which were destroyed during World War II (New Gewandhaus
Gewandhaus
Gewandhaus is a concert hall in Leipzig, Germany. Today's hall is the third to bear this name; like the second, it is noted for its fine acoustics. The first Gewandhaus was built in 1781 by architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. The second opened on 11 December 1884, and was destroyed in the...
and the museums on Augustusplatz
Augustusplatz
The Augustusplatz is a square located at the east end of the city centre of Leipzig. It is the city's largest square and one of the largest squares in Germany...
. Of the remaining buildings is the Grassi Museum
Grassi Museum
The Grassi Museum is a building complex in Leipzig, Germany, home to three museums: the Ethnography Museum, Musical Instruments Museum, and Applied Arts Museum....
at Johannisplatz, the "Old Grassi Museum" (now Leipzig city library) and the Mendebrunnen
Fountains in Leipzig
The fountains in Leipzig were originally built as part of the city's water supply and in the 19th and 20th centuries others were added for decorative functions...
mention. Furthermore parts of the money was used for the erection of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal
Völkerschlachtdenkmal
The Monument to the Battle of the Nations is a monument in Leipzig, Germany to the 1813 Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations...
, and the monuments for Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
.
Since 2002 the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Germany and the TU Chemnitz
Chemnitz University of Technology
Chemnitz University of Technology is located in the town of Chemnitz in Germany. With over 10000 students it is the third largest university in Saxony and around 750 international students from 100 universities all over the world are enrolled each year...
endow the "Franz Dominic Grassi Prize" for services to promote the German-Italian trade and economic relations.