Thèses sur le sujet « Counter-Reformation art »

Five hundred years of Christian martyrdom are represented in the Ecclesiae militantis triumphi (1583). Engraved by Giovanni Battista Cavalieri, the series that was bound into a book reproduces a fresco cycle in the church of San Stefano Rotondo in Rome. While the church belonged to the Jesuit German-Hungarian College, the book accompanied priests in their proselytizing mission in Northern Europe. This thesis will look at the function of the book in relation to various audiences, in different viewing contexts. Analyzed primarily in relation to the intended Jesuit audience as an object of devotion, the book will also be inserted within the Early Christian revival promoted by Gregory XIII (1572-1585). Finally, it will be looked at in relation to an audience composed of individuals interested in factual knowledge about Early Christian history and in the martyr as a historical figure. A general endeavor of the thesis is to situate the Ecclesiae militantis triumphi in relation to late sixteen-century representations of martyrdom, both Catholic and Protestant, as well as in relation to other contemporary Roman printed works.

Art History
Ph.D.
Counter-Reformation treatises are typically dismissed as determiners of style. This dissertation challenges the prevailing view that rejects Counter-Reformation theory as key motivators of sacred style, and will prove that one treatise in particular, Cardinal Gabriele Paleotti's 1582 Discorso intorno alle imagini sacre e profane, held a considerable amount of authority almost immediately after its publication. Through a close study of the Discorso's nature-centered language and its applicability to the Lombard tradition of presenting "tangible presences," it is evident that one artist, in particular, fulfilled Paleotti's vision for a "reformed" sacred style, and one who seldom appears in connection with the cardinal: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. The interconnection of Paleotti's theology of nature, Lombard painting style, and the sacred works of Caravaggio is established through this contextual study of Counter-Reformation Rome in the late Cinquecento and early Seicento. Paleotti's Discorso is evaluated as a whole and as an expression of Paleotti's ideas on sacred art. This examination and analyses of Paleotti's major points and emphases shows how they collectively form a cohesive language and theoretical basis ("theology of nature") for the reformulation of sacred images based on naturalism. Careful readings of Cinquecento and Seicento literature on art (from Vasari to Bellori) draw correspondences between the words used to describe Lombard style and Paleotti's language in his Discorso. The dissemination of his "theology of nature" is demonstrated through reconstruction of Paleotti's Roman circle. Paleotti's important ties to the Oratorians, the Jesuits, the Accademia di San Luca, and his friendships with key cardinal-patrons in the circle of Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte, provided an ideal network for the dissemination of his ideas that would in fact put him into contact with Caravaggio. Caravaggio's plebian religious scenes and figures correlate with Paleotti's conviction that naturalism served as a bridge between painted subject and Christian viewer. This dissertation fills not only a critical lacuna in Counter-Reformation studies, but also opens new contextualizing avenues of research and dialogue on the intricate and determining relationship between Counter-Reformation theory and style, at which, at the heart, stand Cardinal Paleotti and Caravaggio.
Temple University--Theses

Les enjeux de ce travail sont multiples et s’inscrivent dans le renouvellement de la recherche sur la peinture hollandaise. S’il est courant d’opposer un peu rapidement la Flandre catholique d’une part, associée à une production importante de peinture religieuse, et la Hollande calviniste de l’autre, cantonnée à la peinture de genre, on sait à quel point la situation historique et sociale des Pays-Bas était plus complexe. L’existence de milieux catholiques dans les provinces protestantes a entraîné la production non négligeable de peinture : tableaux religieux pour les églises ou pour la dévotion privée ; portraits de clercs ou de laïcs affichant leur confession ; peintures représentant des allégories de la foi catholique. C’est à l’étude de l’ensemble de cette production que je me suis consacrée, en tentant de cerner les besoins et usages des milieux catholiques, ainsi que les réponses des peintres. Je me suis en particulier efforcée de rendre compte le plus précisément possible de la diversité des situations rencontrées et de la difficulté à les faire entrer dans des schémas. Ainsi en est-il par exemple de la question des liens entre l’appartenance confessionnelle des artistes et celles des commanditaires comme des rapports entre sentiments religieux et production artistique ou encore de l’interprétation catholique d’une œuvre. Mon étude vise à enrichir la connaissance du regard des milieux catholiques sur la peinture à l’âge de la Contre-Réforme, par la mise en lumière d’une situation géographique et socio-politique très singulière, et à nuancer l’opposition traditionnelle entre les Pays-Bas du Sud et du Nord en matière d’œuvres d’art
This research intends to be part of the Dutch art historiography’s renewal. The traditional opposition between North and South, Calvinism and Catholicism, History painting and Genre painting is no longer relevant. Although the Reformed church was the public church, the choice of personal religion permitted « sects », like Catholicism, Anabaptism, Lutheranism, to remain active. The presence of Catholics in the calvinist Dutch Republic during the 17th century maintains a demand for paintings : religious art works for churches or private devotion, portraits of the clergy or catholic lay, allegory of the catholic faith. I considered not only the expectations of Catholics in terms of painting, but also the responses of the painters whether they were Catholic or not. My aim is to extend the knowlegde of the production and reception of paintings during the age of the Counter-Reformation in an uncommon political and geographic situation

La present recerca doctoral es dedica a les representacions de Ramon de Penyafort (c.1185-1275) dins del marc de la construcció de la imatge religiosa en època moderna. El punt de partida és l’anàlisi de les primeres figuracions medievals del dominic català, amb l’objectiu d’observar d’una manera àmplia i transversal la gènesi, evolució i variants experimentades en la seva iconografia d’ençà del 1601, quan el personatge assoleix definitivament la santedat. Els continguts de la tesi s’han organitzat a partir de tres blocs principals, precedits per la introducció i les conclusions pertinents. El primer bloc presenta un recull biogràfic de Ramon de Penyafort com a personatge històric, tot subratllant les principals fites que contribuïren a la seva fama com a jurista i predicador de prestigi, abans d’afrontar detalladament la història del procés de canonització del personatge des de la seva mort l’any 1275, fins a la solemne canonització de 1601, celebrada a la nova Basílica de Sant Pere, sota la cúpula dissenyada per Michelangelo. El segon bloc de la tesi gira a redós de la difusió del culte a sant Ramon de Penyafort després de 1601 a Catalunya, però també a les penínsules ibèrica i itàlica, completant el marc geogràfic de l’anomenat Mediterrani catòlic. En aquests territoris es constata com durant les primeres dècades del segle XVII el culte a sant Ramon de Penyafort esdevé emergent i genera esplendoroses festes de canonització, però també nous encàrrecs artístics destinats a la veneració del dominic català, entre els quals destaca la desapareguda capella del sant al convent de Santa Caterina de Barcelona. El tercer bloc temàtic analitza sis qüestions vinculades directament a la imatge raimundiana, que abracen des de la gènesi de les representacions del frare dominic en època medieval, fins a la fixació de la seva iconografia arran de la canonització de 1601. Entre les problemàtiques plantejades, hi ha un especial èmfasi en la creació i difusió de la Transfretació, o viatge miraculós del sant sobre la seva capa entre Mallorca i Barcelona, però també en el seu impacte dins del cicle fundacional de l’Orde de la Mercè de Redempció de captius, així com en els seves conseqüències en època moderna.
The thesis analyses the representations of the catalan Dominican Raymond of Penafort (c.1185-1275). Raymond was probably the most famous and respected jurist in canon law of his time. After occupying the Chair of canon law at the University of Bologna, he received the Dominican habit in Barcelona in 1222, and begun a promising career inside the Order of Preachers, that reached the nomination as Great Master in 1239. During those years, Raymond also became a famous writer after his Summa de casibus poenitentiae, a book of cases for confessors. Knowing Raymond's reputation in the juridical sciences, Gregory IX appointed him chaplain and grand penitentiary, and also commissioned him the compilation of the Decretales, the most important collection of canon laws approved officially in 1234, that became a Standard until 1917. After Raymond’s death in the convent of Santa Caterina of Barcelona, his tomb was the scenario of different miraculous healings attributed to the friar’s intercession. This fact attracted many pilgrims and encouraged his brothers to begin a canonization process to ascend Raymond to the glory of the altars. The main objective of the thesis is the study of Raymond’s representations as confluence between art, sanctity and devotion in the modern era. Although the work is chronologically focused in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, in first instance are closely studied the medieval representations of the friar, in order to observe in a wide and transverse view the genesis, evolution and variants experienced on the iconography of the friar before and after his canonization, held in Rome in 1601.

Les mays de Notre-Dame, tableaux offerts de 1630 à 1707 par la confrérie Sainte-Anne-Saint-Marcel des orfèvres parisiens à la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris en signe de dévotion à la Vierge, forment un des ensembles de peinture religieuse les plus importants du XVIIe siècle. La thèse de doctorat propose une étude de cette série en deux volets, une approche analytique à travers un essai et une approche synthétique à l'aide d'un catalogue. L'essai aborde dans une première partie le contexte confraternel et explique le choix de grands formats présentés dans la nef de la cathédrale. La deuxième partie s'intéresse à la fonction religieuse et politique de ces tableaux. La troisième partie s'attache aux conditions de la commande et aux questions de style et évalue la réception des œuvres au XVIIIe, XIXe et XXe siècles. Le catalogue reprend pour chaque tableau l'ensemble des données documentaires et visuelles. Les textes accompagnant les toiles (contrats, explications, inventaires de Notre-Dame) constituent les annexes. L'importance des mays dans la peinture religieuse du XVIIe siècle tient à leurs résonances avec les préoccupations pastorales et théologales de l'Église de Paris, ainsi qu'à leur statut de modèle pour la peinture religieuse. Exposés au cœur de la cathédrale de Paris, ils constituent un décor sacré au service du roi et de la politique religieuse du royaume
The mays of Notre-Dame, paintings offered from 1630 till 1707 by the brotherhood Sainte-Anne-Saint-Marcel of the Parisian silversmiths to the cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris in sign of worship in the Virgin, are one of main group of paintings of the XVIIth century. The doctoral thesis proposes a study of this series in two steps, an analytical approach through a essay and a synthetic approach by means of a catalog. The essay approaches on a first part the fraternal context and explains the choice of large formats presented in the nave of the cathedral. The second part is interested in the religious function and the politics of these paintings. The third part becomes attached in the conditions of the command and to the questions of style and estimates the reception of the works at the XVIIIth, XIXth and XXth centuries. The catalog resumes for every picture all the documentary and visual data. Texts accompanying paintings (contracts, explanations, inventories of Notre-Dame) establish appendices. The importance of mays in the religious painting of the XVIIth century holds their echos with the pastoral concerns and théologales of the Church of Paris, as well as in their status of model for the religious painting. Exposed at the heart of the cathedral of Paris, they constitute a decoration crowned in the service of king and of religious politics of the kingdom

La censure de la musique existe depuis l’antiquité. Aristote et Platon ont rappelé le danger de la mimesis musicale et sa valeur morale a été largement discutée par les Pères de l’église, mais le débat est également enflammé à l’époque moderne, lorsque l’on trouve deux tendances fondamentales sur les fronts catholiques et réformés : d’un côté le rôle central de la musique pour la liturgie, de l’autre le contrôle des autorités ecclésiastiques à tous les aspects de la vie des fidèles (la religion, les lectures, les croyances magiques, les habitudes alimentaires et sexuelles, et toutes les formes de sociabilité desquelles la musique est l’ingrédient essentiel). Un examen des sources peut montrer qu’aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles, le domaine dans lequel on trouve une formulation claire et des réponses à cette problématique n’est pas l’humanisme laïque. Les intérêts des humanistes se concentrent sur la reconstruction d’une grammaire des affects qui est un alibi pour l’émancipation de la musique moderne, la seconda pratiqua, et la capacité de la musique à provoquer les affects importe davantage que sa faculté à leur imposer une limite. C’est dans le terrain de la théologie et de la casuistique qu’on discute l’aspect éthique de la question. Le concile de Trente (1564) et les édits diocésains condamnent le chromatisme, la messe parodie et l’utilisation des répertoires musicaux profanes dans la liturgie. La censure de la Congrégation de l’Index et du Saint Office s’étend à toutes les pratiques de communication populaire écrites et orales, et notamment au pétrarquisme. De Savonarole à Descartes, toutes les tentatives de déterminer la valeur affective des éléments de la composition supposent un diagnostic sur les facultés de l’âme et sur ses opérations lors de la fascination. La grammaire polyphonique peut modifier par ses tressages sonores le rapport entre le texte et la mélodie, détourner l’attention et conduire l’auditeur à une transgression émotionnelle (altérité, alienatio, excessus mentis). Étant donnée la corruption de la nature humaine, l’abandon au plaisir de la mélodie constitue un désordre coupable, sans commune mesure avec la musique qui pouvait bercer l’âme harmonieuse du premier homme. Reste, comme remède, la grâce sanctifiante du texte révélé des psaumes, à utiliser comme frein modérateur pour tempérer la puissance émotive de la musique
Is it possible to censure music? This question may sound rather extravagant, and this is perhaps why music is often overlooked in studies on ecclesiastical censorship in the early modern period, for it would seem that its very essence is incompatible with any form of control. In fact, the huge transformation the Catholic Church had to face, between the sixteenth and the seventeenth century, had a big impact on the music scene. Unavoidably, music was involved in the disputes between Catholics and Protestants as essential liturgical element. The musicologists have mainly studied the Council of Trent action, which seemed to be animated by the desire to remove the secular textual and melodic components from the church repertory. Therefore, Rome became the main center of production for sacred and spiritual music used in celebrations, devotional practices and also in teaching catechism. The case of the Society of Jesus is exemplar: music represent a powerful means of education in college programs, and a strategic tool in the catechesis work. To the enhancement of spiritual genres corresponds as well the will of ‘suppress’ the profane repertories. This is well documented during the age of Counter Reformation, by the variety of cases of ‘‘travestimento’’ which invest canzonette and madrigals. This attitude was also proved by some of the measures the ecclesiastical censure adopted against the vocal production since the seventies of the sixteenth century. In ancient Greek musical theory, harmony was seen as being endowed with a natural virtue capable of altering the rational faculties of the listener’s soul, to the extent of depriving that person of his freedom. The many ethical implications of this classical axiom featured in early modern theological debates. My thesis tries to provide a first answer to these questions by studying the conciliar decrees, the documents of the Index Congregation, the treatises on music and the manuals on demonology. These sources reveal musical censorship did not only involve zealous inquisitors battling with some licentious musician, but also the language of worship and the circulation of prohibited knowledge, which included dangers in the form of sounds that went beyond erotic seduction

Cette thèse porte sur l’éloquence sacrée telle que le prédicateur franciscain Francesco Panigarola, l’une des figures majeures de l’art oratoire post-tridentin, la conçut en tant que rhéteur et la pratiqua du haut de la chaire. De son œuvre nous avons retenu les textes en italien : d’une part les écrits polémiques, les traités rhétoriques et pédagogiques, où s’exprime la réflexion de Panigarola sur le statut et les finalités de l’éloquence sacrée, d’autre part ceux qui attestent des procédés oratoires mis en œuvre dans l’exercice de la prédication. L’étude associe à la fois une approche chronologique, centrée sur le profil biographique, et une approche systématique concernant quelques grandes questions rhétoriques et stylistiques. L’objectif est de restituer l’orateur franciscain à la culture de son temps et de mettre en lumière certaines constantes de son style oratoire asian, notamment le statut privilégié accordé aux ressources de l’imagination visuelle. La première partie suit les étapes de la formation humaniste et religieuse de Panigarola ; la présentation de quelques documents inédits permet de jeter une lumière nouvelle sur ses activités de controversiste et de diplomate. La seconde partie analyse la théorie du discours oratoire sacré qu’il développe dans ses traités rhétoriques à l’usage des prédicateurs : Il Predicatore, les Regole per far la memoria locale et le Modo di comporre una predica. L’étude vise à mettre en évidence l’originalité des initiatives stylistiques et des procédés rythmiques, lexicaux et morphosyntaxiques de Panigarola, qui marquèrent l’entrée de la prédication dans le domaine de la littérature italienne. La dernière partie est consacrée à la définition de la doctrine panigarolienne de l’image ainsi qu’à la description des stratégies visuelles et auditives déployées dans ses sermons. Comment le franciscain réussissait-il à « faire voir », par les mots et à travers eux, les concepts qu’il voulait transmettre ? Quelles étaient les ressources du style qu’il déployait pour rendre son discours « visualisable » ? Ces questions ont été examinées du point de vue de l’enargeia « visuelle » et « sonore », et des procédés techniques dont elles sont le fruit
Our theme in this thesis is sacred eloquence, such as that of the Franciscan preacher Francesco Panigarola, a major figure of post tridentine oratory art, envisaged it as a rhetor and practised it from his pulpit. We have selected texts in Italian from his works: on the one hand, controversial writings, rhetorical and pedagogical treatises, where Panigarola reflects upon the status and finalities of sacred eloquence, and on the other hand, those which bear witness of the oratorical procedures utilized for sermons. Our study links, at one and the same time, a chronological approach, focussing on the biographical profile and a systematic approach to a few major rhetorical and stylistic questions. Our objective is to replace the Franciscan orator within the culture of his times and throw light on certain recurrent themes in his asianic style, particularly the pre-eminent status granted to the resources of visual imagination. Our first part takes us through the stages of Panigarola’s humanistic and religious formation; the presentation of a few previously unpublished documents sheds new light on his activities as a controversialist and diplomat. The second part analyses the theory of sacred oratory art, which he developed in his rhetorical treatises for the use of preachers: Il Predicatore, the Regole per far la memoria locale and the Modo di comporre una predica. The aim of our study is to show the originality of his stylistic initiatives and the rhythmic lexical and morpho-syntaxic methods of Panigarola, which marked the arrival of preaching in the world of Italian literature. The last section is devoted to the definition of Panigarola’s doctrine of the image, together with the description of the visual and auditory strategies employed in his sermons. How did the Franciscan succeed in “bringing to sight”, by his words, and through them, the concepts he wished to transmit? What were the stylistic resources he used to make his speech “seeable”? These questions have been examined from the point of view of “visual” and “resounding” enargeia, and the technical procedures which gave it birth

Le recensement des tableaux du XVIIe siècle conservés dans les églises sarthoises a permis de constater une forte activité des peintres manceaux à cette époque, jusque là encore très mal connue. Pourtant, elle a contribué à l’élaboration d’une manière propre aux milieux artistiques manceaux d’alors qui ont su prolonger loin dans le siècle la séduction du maniérisme, sans pour autant raidir celui-ci. La prédominance, puis la persistance du maniérisme s’expliquent par l’immense diffusion de la gravure anversoise à la charnière des XVIe et XVIIe siècles. Plus tard, l’autorité des maîtres parisiens, italiens et flamands reposa sur la reproduction de leurs oeuvres par l’intermédiaire des estampes. Éloignée des grands foyers artistiques, la peinture mancelle était en général conservatrice et répétitive, cherchant tout d’abord à vivement frapper le fidèle. Les tableaux religieux de l’époque post tridentine étaient surtout des oeuvres fonctionnelles, limitées à l’interprétation stricte des scènes, et pour lesquels pouvaient suffire des talents médiocres, et où le recours à la copie était très courant. Cette thèse permet de constater que le milieu des peintres manceaux, tout en gardant ses particularités provinciales, fût dynamique, ouvert aux apports nouveaux et riche en personnalités intéressantes. Leurs oeuvres ont constitué une sorte de tournant dans la production régionale dont l’évolution a suivi les mêmes directions que les grands courants parisiens, quoique avec un écart inévitable. Sont d’abord étudiés la Commande, les Peintres, la Création, les OEuvres et l’Évolution de la peinture mancelle (I). Vient ensuite le Dictionnaire des peintres manceaux (II), et enfin le Catalogue des oeuvres (III)
The inventory of 17th-century paintings in churches in the département of Sarthe reveals that painters in Le Mans, hitherto little known, were prolific at that time. This hive of activity gave rise to an artistic scene in the province of Maine, in and around the city of Le Mans, which prolonged the style of mannerism well into the century, until it was replaced by the authority of Parisian, Italian and Flemish masters. A far cry from main artistic centres, Maine painting was generally conservative and repetitive. Above all, it sought to strike religious believers. Religious works by Maine painters during the post-Tridentine era were functional works, content to merely portray a scene. They required little or no talent and copying was very widespread. This thesis shows that the painting scene in and around Le Mans, although doggedly provincial, was dynamic, open to new contributions and full of interesting characters. Their work marked a turning point in regional production and its evolution followed the same trends as the major Parisian currents, albeit with an evitable delay. We shall examine commissioning, the artists, creation, works and the evolution of painting in Le Mans (I). This will be followed by the dictionary of Maine painters (II) and the catalogue of works (III)

La present tesi vol explicar la implantació de la Reforma Catòlica en una sèrie de parròquies rurals dels bisbats de Girona (valls de Ridaura, Bas, Hostoles i Amer) i Vic (El Collsacabra i les valls de Susqueda i Sau), entre 1587 i 1800, des dels bisbes posttrentins Jaume Caçador i Pedro Jaime als il·lustrats Tomàs de Lorenzana i Francisco de Veyan. La documentació principal són les sèries de les visites pastorals conservades a l'Arxiu Diocesà de Girona i l'Arxiu Episcopal de Vic; paral·lelament, s'ha reforçat amb documentació parroquial (llibres sagramentals, consuetes, llibres d'obra i confraries), protocols notarials (notaries de Rupit, Sant Feliu de Pallerols, El Mallol i Amer) i impresos episcopals. Els manaments de les visites pastorals s'han contrastat, amb semblances i diferències, amb els decrets del concili de Trento, de les constitucions provincials tarraconenses i les sinodals gironines i vigatanes, i amb les evidències artístiques, arquitectòniques i arqueològiques. Tots ells han servit per demostrar la lentitud en la implantació del programa tridentí, que s'assoleix, de fet, amb força retard (ben entrat el segle XVIII).
The present thesis tries to explain the implantation of the Catholic Reform in a few rural parish churches in the bishoprics of Girona (Valleys of Ridaura, Bas, Hostoles and Amer) and Vic (El Collsacabra and Valleys of Susqueda and Sau), from 1587 to 1800, from the post-Trent bishops Jaume Caçador and Pedro Jaime to Illustrated Tomàs de Lorenzana and Francisco de Veyan. The main sources of information are the pastoral bishop visits. These series are well preserved in the Arxiu Diocesà de Girona and the Arxiu Episcopal de Vic. We also have added some other documents: parish registers, notary books (from Rupit, Sant Feliu de Pallerols, El Mallol i Amer) and bishop printed material. We have contrasted the orders from the bishops visits with the decrees from the Council of Trent, the Constitutions of the Tarraconense Province and the Synodal Constitutions of Girona and Vic, and the artistic, architectural and archaeological evidences. All of them have shown the slow pace and the delay of the enterprise.

La thèse établit l’histoire comparative des différents Sacri Monti italiens dans un but précis : étudier la transformation d’ « architectures » qui étaient des copies de lieux vides de Terre Sainte en vastes cycles chronologiques animés de nombreuses peintures et statues. Les nécessités religieuses de ces sites définissent un rapport original entre les arts qui donne la première place aux statues : on l’appellera « paragone chrétien ». La statuaire y est exceptionnellement didactique et propre à susciter les émotions. Didactique : les Sacri Monti mettent progressivement en place une statuaire narrative. Propre à susciter les émotions : ces terres cuites polychromes à grandeur sont « vivantes » au point d’incarner les scènes. À la fois familiers et exotiques, variés et récurrents, les très nombreux personnages des chapelles composent souvent des types singulièrement outrés. Leur beauté et surtout leur laideur cruelle et difforme, doit être utile : s’appuyant sur une lecture physiognomonique des scènes, le pèlerinage (guidé) aux Sacri Monti constitue une catharsis chrétienne
This dissertation examines the history of the Italian Sacri Monti from a comparative perspective. The main objective is to understand how “architectures” that were copies of void monuments from the Holy Land were transformed into large chronological cycles animated through the use of numerous paintings and statues. The religious motivations of these sites define a specific relationship between the different art forms, one that emphasizes sculpture and which can be characterized as a “Christian paragone”. Statuary is particularly didactic and emotional. It is didactic in the sense that the Sacri Monti serve to stage a narrative statuary It is also emotional since the life-sized and polychrome terracotta sculptures are so “alive” that they seem to be performing the scenes. The many characters in the chapels are both familiar and exotic, diverse and repetitive. They constitute types that often look strangely outraged. Their beauty but also their cruel and deformed ugliness serve a didactic purpose: grounded on a physiognomic reading of the scenes, the (guided) pilgrimage to the Sacri Monti mediates a Christian catharsis

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Princeton University, 1987.
Includes abstract. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 507-544).

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary has been regarded as a normative subject of post-Tridentine altarpiece production. Yet it is actually a complex pictorial allegory that comments upon an archaic tradition of Christian narratives and its intersection with Marian devotion. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary belongs to a tradition of devotional images in which the Eucharistic meaning is the preferred means for furthering narrative ideas. The deeper meaning of the Assumption altarpiece becomes apparent in the light of the following points, demonstrated repeatedly throughout the study: 1) altarpieces of the Assumption represent a Marian subject informed by narrative liberty, not views of iconography and Tridentine history 2) their imagery is largely based upon visual narratives associated with the historical imagination of the painter 3) they disallow the pre-eminence of the classical model and incorporate other models derived from a resemblance to Byzantine icons and Northern prints 4) they are analogous to icons, essays praising truthfulness and inwardness which operate to convey complex pictorial ideas in narrative adaptations. The first chapter evaluates the narrative source of El Greco’s altarpieces from Toledo. The medieval past of Toledo fused with the Byzantine tradition in an altarpiece form for which parallels are rare in the modern age. The second chapter examines Annibale Carracci’s main Assumption altarpieces and a selection of related paintings. For Annibale Carracci, the original setting at the high altar safeguards the Eucharistic meaning of his Assumption narrative and in turn shapes the narrative link with the adjoining altarpieces. The third chapter involves the Northern devotional print as a narrative outset of Federico Zuccari’s and Rubens’ altarpieces. Their narrative solutions negotiate complex pictorial allegories and further the claim for truthfulness of representation inherent in the print.
Thesis (Ph.D, Art History) -- Queen's University, 2009-11-13 11:41:08.724

Dissertação de Mestrado em Estudos do Património apresentada à Universidade Aberta
Flávio Gonçalves (1929-1987) é uma personalidade multidisciplinar. Historiador da Arte, iconógrafo, iconólogo, investigador, professor, conferencista, constitui-se como objeto de estudo proposto para a dissertação final do mestrado em Estudos do Património. Homem de ciência, Flávio Gonçalves é apesar de tudo um autor pouco conhecido. Ainda assim, os seus estudos constituem uma referência no processo da leitura e de interpretação dos documentos figurativos, fundamentalmente a arte religiosa. Utilizou o método iconográfico, observando atentamente e descrevendo os elementos visuais bem como o método iconológico, para explicar o significado profundo da obra de arte. O objetivo deste trabalho intenta responder à pergunta o que nos revelam os estudos de Flávio Gonçalves sobre a arte religiosa em Portugal dos séculos XVI e XVII. A obra de Flávio Gonçalves é extensa, motivo por que circunscrevemos o conhecimento dos seus estudos às investigações iconográficas efetuadas na arte religiosa que revelaram influências e ruturas na historiografia nacional. Confrontamos com o que os historiadores da arte nos primeiros anos do século XX nos deixaram para nos situarmos nos processos historiográficos desse tempo e conhecer o que então se escreveu sobre a História da Arte. Flávio Gonçalves, não se limitou a ser um historiador centrado na inventariação exaustiva e cronológica das obras de arte e das épocas a que se reportam. Os seus estudos tanto se centraram nas obras de arte reconhecidas, como nos objetos plásticos de menor valor artístico. Fez-nos perceber que a obra de arte, sendo uma expressão cultural, oferece à nossa crítica mais do que nos revelam as suas cores e as suas formas.
Flávio Gonçalves (1929-1987) is a multidisciplinary figure. As an art historian, iconographer, iconologist, researcher, teacher, lecturer, he was selected as the object of study for the final master's thesis in Estudos do Património. As a man of science, Flávio Gonçalves is, despite all, a little known author. Nevertheless, his studies are a reference in what the process of reading and interpretation of figurative documents, essentially in the religious art is concerned. He used the iconographic method, by attentively looking and describing the visual elements, as well as the iconological method in order to explain the work of art’s deep meaning. The purpose of this study is to try to answer the question what do Flávio Gonçalves studies reveal about Portuguese religious art in the XVI and XVII centuries. Flávio Gonçalves work is extensive and, for this reason, we circumscribed the knowledge of his studies to the iconographic investigations about religious art that had revealed influences and ruptures in national historiography. We compared with the work of other historians from the beginning of the XX century to locate ourselves in the historiographical processes of that time and to get to know what has been written about Art History. Flávio Gonçalves was not just an historian focused on extensive and chronological inventorying of the work of art from the period concerned. His studies focus not only in well-known work of art, but also in plastic objects with minor artistic value. He made us realize that the work of art, as a cultural expression, offers to our criticism more than its colours and shapes.

Au moment où se poursuit l’établissement des princes de l’Église dans la campagne romaine par la construction de somptueuses villas, le Concile de Trente (1545-1563) adopte une série de décrets qui entendent réaffirmer les dogmes catholiques et réformer les mœurs du clergé, critiqués par les protestants. Puisque la villa est perçue au 16e siècle comme un lieu où le fidèle peut faire l’expérience d’une retraite spirituelle, ce mémoire souhaite lever le voile sur les pratiques dévotionnelles suburbaines post-tridentines. Pour ce faire, les cycles picturaux de trois chapelles de villas romaines dont la décoration a été réalisée à la suite de cet important concile sont examinés : la chapelle du palazzo Farnese à Caprarola, appartenant au cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589), la chapelle de la villa d’Este à Tivoli, construite pour le cardinal Ippolito II d’Este (1509-1572), et la chapelle de la villa Mondragone à Frascati, commanditée par le cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps (1533-1595) pour le pape Grégoire XIII (1502-1585). Il s’agit de vérifier l’impact des pratiques dévotionnelles sur le choix des décors dans ces lieux de culte privés. S’attarder à la perception du regardeur de l’époque et au rapport spirituel du public à l’image implique que nous analysions notre corpus à l’aide d’un cadre anthropologique.
The taste for countryside palaces among the Princes of the Church was already well established when the Council of Trent (1545-1563) moved to counter the protestant Reformation. This council asserted catholic dogmas and significantly reformed clerical mores. In this context, villas are seen as the perfect stage to realize spiritual ambitions. This thesis thus studies extra-urban devotional practices by examining three chapels in countryside palaces around Rome decorated after the Council of Trent: Cardinal Alessandro Farnese’s (1520-1589) chapel in his villa at Caprarola; the Villa d’Este chapel at Tivoli built for Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este (1509-1572); and the Villa Mondragone chapel at Frascati, ordered by Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps (1533-1595) for Pope Gregory XIII (1502-1585). We seek to examine the influence of contemporary devotional practices on the iconographic cycles in the private sphere. The public’s perception and spiritual response to the frescoes will be probed through an anthropological approach to images.

À l’aide des écrits d’humanistes chrétiens, ayant exercé un contrôle sur la pratique des arts après le Concile de Trente, nous tenterons d’expliquer le développement du genre paysager en peinture. Le cardinal Federico Borromeo, Louis Richeôme ainsi que Jean Calvin figurent parmi les théologiens qui ont contribué à cette littérature chrétienne influente. Nous nous servirons surtout de l’historiographie récente afin de prouver le rôle essentiel joué par la pensée chrétienne dans le développement de la représentation de la nature en art. Prenant appui sur certaines études importantes, nous analyserons des exemples tant picturaux qu’architecturaux qui reflètent cette influence chrétienne sur la perception de la nature. Au préalable, nous tenterons de dresser un portrait de l’environnement culturel et religieux dans lequel ces humanistes chrétiens ont vécu et développé leur pensée. Notre objectif sera de prouver que l’humanisme chrétien a joué un rôle important pour l’essor du paysage à l’époque de la Contre-Réforme. Les sources contemporaines ainsi que leur interprétation par les historiens et les historiens d’art modernes permettront de mieux comprendre le rôle joué par la pensée chrétienne au sein de ce développement artistique.
Examining the writings of Christian humanists, who exercised control over the practice of the arts after the Council of Trent, this paper seeks to understand the development of landscape painting in the Early Modern period. Cardinal Federico Borromeo, the Jesuit Louis Richeome and Jean Calvin, are among those theologians who contributed to this influential Christian literature. We will mainly use the recent historiography to demonstrate the essential role played by Christian thought in the rise of the representation of nature into art. Building on some important studies, we will analyze both pictorial and architectural examples that reflect this Christian influence on the perception of nature. First, we will try to paint a picture of the religious and cultural environment in which the Christian humanists lived and developed their thinking. Our goal is to prove that Christian humanism played an important role in the development of landscape representations during the Counter-Reformation. Contemporary sources as well as their interpretation by modern historians and art historians will help us to better understand the role of Christian thought in this artistic development.

Nous proposons une étude des genitalia masculines dans la production de Michel-Ange afin de saisir ce qu’un tel motif pouvait signifier dans différentes œuvres selon le sujet qu’elles représentent. En nous concentrant principalement sur quatre œuvres de l’artiste florentin nous désirons éclaircir l’impact visuel du dévoilement du sexe masculin et la perception que pouvait en avoir le public italien du XVe siècle et du XVIe siècle. Le Bacchus (1496-1497), Le David (1501-1504), Le Christ Rédempteur (1519-1520) et Le Jugement dernier (1536-1541) ont été choisis pour la diversité des thèmes qu’ils illustrent et pour leurs différents contextes de production et d’exposition. Nous comparons les œuvres religieuses aux œuvres profanes afin d’y relever les problématiques spécifiques qui résultent dans chacun des cas. Le choix de s’en tenir à la production de Michel-Ange implique aussi de se pencher sur un type de figure masculine bien précis, directement inspiré de l’Antiquité. Pour mieux comprendre ce qui résulte du dévoilement des genitalia, nous définissons des notions primordiales comme le nu, la nudité, la sexualité, la masculinité et la virilité dans l’art de la Renaissance. À partir d’une approche historiographique, dont La sexualité du Christ à la Renaissance et son refoulement moderne de Leo Steinberg constitue la référence principale, nous appuyons ses hypothèses quant aux représentations du sexe du Christ. Et selon une approche historique, nous suggérons des hypothèses quant à la nudité intégrale de figures emblématiques de la production de Michel-Ange. En nous concentrant principalement sur les œuvres nommées ci-haut et le détail des genitalia, nous remarquerons que les artistes, y compris Michel-Ange, ne représentent pas ce détail par hasard, mais bien parce que cette partie du corps riche en signification peut servir à exprimer et appuyer plusieurs concepts.
We propose a study on the male genitalia in Michelangelo’s production, in order to grasp the significance in different works of art depending on the subject that they represent. By focusing on four pieces of art of the Florentine artist, we would like to clarify the visual impact of the male genitals unveiled and the perception from the Italian audience of the fifteenth century and sixteenth century. The Bacchus (1496-1497), The David, (1501-1504), The Risen Christ (1519-1520) and The Last Judgment (1536-1541) have been chosen for the variety of the topics they illustrate and for the different contexts of production and exhibition. We compare religious pieces of art to profane pieces of art to identify specific issues that result in every case. The decision to stick to only Michelango’s artistic production also implies looking at a specific type of male figure, directly inspired by the Antiquity. For a better understanding of what results from the genitalia’s unveiling, we define essential notions like nude, nudity, sexuality, masculinity and virility in the Renaissance. With a historiographical approach based on The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion, written by Leo Steinberg, we support his hypothesis about the representations of Christ’ genitals. And with a historical approach we suggest some hypotheses about the nudity of iconic figures realised by Michelangelo. By focusing mainly on the pieces of art mentioned above and the detail of genitalia, we notice that artists, such as Michelangelo, did not represent this detail by chance, but because this part of the body is rich of signification and can serve to express many concepts.

Questa tesi mira a fornire un nuovo catalogo dei dipinti di Bartolomeo Cesi (1556-1629). Il focus del lavoro sono le opere dell'artista, ma questi è stato indagato anche nei suoi aspetti biografici, recuperando le bozze manoscritte di Carlo Cesare Malvasia conservate all'Archiginnasio di Bologna (ms. B 16) o ricercando informazioni presso gli archivi di quella città. La considerazione corrente, da parte della critica, di Cesi come un artista dotto, così erudito da saper formulare anche programmi iconografici complessi, viene messa in dubbio proprio grazie alle fonti documentarie ritrovate. Non vi sono nuove acquisizioni di pitture, ma continue sono le proposte e le riflessioni condotte nell'ambito della loro cronologia, un campo non facile per via dello stile molto costante del pittore e per via della sua nota predilezione a ricopiare figure già inventate anche a distanza di decenni. In questo senso viene ribadita la tesi, già essenzialmente acquisita ma che mancava spesso di conferme, di riscontri con le opere, dell'avvio di una fase calante del pittore a partire dalla fine del primo decennio del Seicento. Un'attenzione particolare è stata rivolta alle commissioni di opere a tema profano, ovvero al ciclo dedicato alle Storie di Enea a Palazzo Fava a Bologna e a quello delle Storie di Annibale di Palazzo Albergati, quest'ultimo un inedito di straordinario interesse per via del tema, così raro, che è raffigurato, e per via dei numerosi quesiti che pone ancora.