Projects / Programmes
Art and the Nobility in Times of Decline: Transformations, Translocations and Reinterpretations
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.09.00 |
Humanities |
Art history |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H310 |
Humanities |
Art history |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.04 |
Humanities |
Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music) |
Art heritage, nobility, art patronage, collecting, provenance, translocation, reception, castles and manors, Habsburg Monarchy, Slovenia
Researchers (13)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
This project focuses on the role of the nobility in art after the mid-18th century and the reception of aristocratic art heritage in the territory of Slovenia. Its main objective is to explore how social and political circumstances that contributed to and accompanied the nobility's decline influenced their art commissions and changes in art. The further objective is to identify the main patrons and artists and their artistic endeavors. Finally, we wish to explore the varying reception of aristocratic heritage and the circumstances affecting its uses. The project fundamentally progresses beyond the state of the art; it complements and methodological upgrades the hitherto studies into art and aristocratic patronage in Slovenia and beyond.
The starting point is the conviction that a comprehensive understanding of the social circumstances and the actual state of artistic heritage in the period leading to the dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy and thereafter is fundamental for the efficient and objective contextualization of its state during WW2 and the post-war times. The turning points in history providing a contextual basis to the project are the Enlightenment and its administrative reforms, the French Revolution, Napoleon's rule, the 1848 revolution, the Dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy in 1918, the nobility's reception in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and in the post-war socialist Yugoslavia.
The project comprises two segments: transformation and adaptation of aristocratic residential architecture and furnishings in the second half of the 18th and 19th centuries, and reinterpretations and translocations of aristocratic heritage in the long 19th century and the years after the dissolution of the Monarchy. For the first time in Slovenia, the renovation and rebuilding of aristocratic residences will be analyzed. The role of the nobility in the use of new building types and architectural styles, the prominent artists as well as the transformation of interior design and furnishings will be researched. Comparative analyses of collecting habits and case studies of individual aristocratic collections will shed light on collecting in this period. Furthermore, the history of aristocratic heritage will be studied by analyzing translocations and confiscations of artworks and their role in the new environment, as well as new uses of castles and manors. As the research will be based on a comparative European perspective, the intense international cooperation (especially with Croatia, Austria, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic) is this project’s strong side, as well as interdisciplinary work, as evident in the team's background.
While the project methodologically partly relates to current international research into patronage, representation, reception of heritage and its history, its content is innovative. It is conceived as a unique combination of currently topical fields, such as research into patronage and collecting, architectural history and provenance research, and tackles a number of research problems for the first time in the wider region beyond Slovenia. The combined approach will thus be based on existing sources and surviving material typical of the region, thereby emphasizing the importance of archival research.
The project team comprises researchers at various career stages from three partner institutions (ZRC SAZU, Faculty of Arts of the University of Maribor, and Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transport Engineering and Architecture, University of Maribor), all with the project-related international references. The project results will be presented at conferences, published as scientific articles, and as a book co-authored by the team. They will be disseminated by lectures, guided tours, an exhibition and doors-open day. A database of uses of castles will be created to connect the results in terms of digital humanities and as a platform for further research.
Significance for science
The project introduces to Slovenia a comprehensive study of art of the second half of the 18th and the 19th century from the perspective of patronage, collecting and history of taste. It will significantly raise our knowledge of the role of aristocracy in art in the time of their decline. Moreover, by studying translocations of artworks in this period, it will address this theme for the first time in Slovenia. These aspects are of high relevance for art history as well as related fields of humanities and social studies as they will contextualize architecture, artists, commissioners, and artworks in this region in wider European perspective. The project results will be permanently included in the applicant research programs and university study programs of all levels.
Methodological impact of the project is highly significant; the combination of approaches applied will progress fundamentally beyond the current state of the art in the fields of art history and history. By delving into reception of art heritage and its functions, the project will importantly contribute also to applied fields, especially heritage protection and museum practice.
A database will be made as one of the project's results, which will structure the new research results and material, and integrate them with those from the past and current research conducted at the applicant organization, thus importantly facilitating further research. Applying the methods of digital humanities will increase the project’s impact.
The project will intensify the existing cooperation with researchers and museums in Slovenia (Ptuj-Ormož and Murska Sobota regional museums, the National Museum of Slovenia) and in Europe – in addition to Strossmayer Gallery in Zagreb, University of Udine, Italy and Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte in Münich, also with researchers from Vienna, Graz, Prague, Budapest, Venice etc.
The project results will be implemented in the study programs of art history and architecture at the University of Maribor; students will participate in selected project contents (such as the exhibition). Cooperation of the three project partners and students ensures a high level of interdisciplinarity.
The project will be highly relevant for cultural heritage preservation; with new findings and by analysing different uses, renovations and revitalisation practices in European perspective, the project will contribute new contents for effective preservation of castles and manors (among others Negova, Novo Celje, Murska Sobota, Slovenska Bistrica) and their revitalisation.
Finally, the project-related contents will be disseminated to wider public with guided tours, exhibition and open-door day as to show relevance of such research. Moreover, we will cooperate with the regional centers for the promotion of tourism, and will thus contribute to the local cultural tourism.
Significance for the country
The project introduces to Slovenia a comprehensive study of art of the second half of the 18th and the 19th century from the perspective of patronage, collecting and history of taste. It will significantly raise our knowledge of the role of aristocracy in art in the time of their decline. Moreover, by studying translocations of artworks in this period, it will address this theme for the first time in Slovenia. These aspects are of high relevance for art history as well as related fields of humanities and social studies as they will contextualize architecture, artists, commissioners, and artworks in this region in wider European perspective. The project results will be permanently included in the applicant research programs and university study programs of all levels.
Methodological impact of the project is highly significant; the combination of approaches applied will progress fundamentally beyond the current state of the art in the fields of art history and history. By delving into reception of art heritage and its functions, the project will importantly contribute also to applied fields, especially heritage protection and museum practice.
A database will be made as one of the project's results, which will structure the new research results and material, and integrate them with those from the past and current research conducted at the applicant organization, thus importantly facilitating further research. Applying the methods of digital humanities will increase the project’s impact.
The project will intensify the existing cooperation with researchers and museums in Slovenia (Ptuj-Ormož and Murska Sobota regional museums, the National Museum of Slovenia) and in Europe – in addition to Strossmayer Gallery in Zagreb, University of Udine, Italy and Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte in Münich, also with researchers from Vienna, Graz, Prague, Budapest, Venice etc.
The project results will be implemented in the study programs of art history and architecture at the University of Maribor; students will participate in selected project contents (such as the exhibition). Cooperation of the three project partners and students ensures a high level of interdisciplinarity.
The project will be highly relevant for cultural heritage preservation; with new findings and by analysing different uses, renovations and revitalisation practices in European perspective, the project will contribute new contents for effective preservation of castles and manors (among others Negova, Novo Celje, Murska Sobota, Slovenska Bistrica) and their revitalisation.
Finally, the project-related contents will be disseminated to wider public with guided tours, exhibition and open-door day as to show relevance of such research. Moreover, we will cooperate with the regional centers for the promotion of tourism, and will thus contribute to the local cultural tourism.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
