Konrad, it was clear, was in possession of a tremendous intellect. I have met some eminent art historians before, and although they are sympathetically inclined towards an understanding of contemporary art, they labor to achieve it. Konrad spoke beautifully on Raphael and why he was important, but he was a person with an agile capacity to leap centuries with obvious ease. The radical challenge that took place at the beginning of the 20th century when the Russian Revolution forced the pace of the advent of abstraction, made no difference to Konrad's ability to see it, understand it, and estimate it. His flexibility of intellect was impressive. His willingness to embrace art of different ages on its own terms was highly unusual, for such a great specialist.
His appetite and ambition were authentically supported by an intellect that was the acme of focus, and intrepid in its flexibility. Almost as if it were a moral responsibility to deny time its tyranny over understanding. I believe it is this moral imperative that drove Konrad's voyage. Thus he has left us a body of writing and influence that is oceanic.