[CfP] Heraldry in Medieval and Early Modern State-Rooms: Towards a Typology of Heraldic Programmes in Spaces of Self-Representation – Münster, Germany, 16-18 March 2016

(version française ci-dessous)

Krems (A), Gozzoburg (photo: Wolfgang Sauber via Wikimedia Commons)

Krems (A), Gozzoburg (photo: Wolfgang Sauber via Wikimedia Commons)

Heraldry was an ubiquitous element of state-rooms. Whether in palaces of kings and princes, castles of noblemen, residences of patricians, city halls or in cathedral chapters, heraldic display was a crucial element in  the visual programme of these spaces. Despite its omnipresence, however, heraldic display in state-rooms remains largely understudied so far.

Given the fundamental role of heraldry in medieval and early modern visual communication, it seems essential to incorporate the study of heraldry into our understanding of the state-rooms and their functions. The heraldic programmes appear to have been intimately tied to the functions of those rooms and the strategies of self-representation and communication employed by commissioners and users of such places.

This workshop aims to explore these heraldic programmes in state-rooms in medieval and early modern Europe and to suggest an initial typology of this phenomenon. We would like to include case studies showcasing different social and institutional examples. In the context of the workshop, we understand state-rooms to be rooms used for ceremonies and receptions, and spaces able to construct and express identity that were meant to be witnessed by  members of a community itself as well as by outsiders.

Lehenbuch of Frederick I, Elector Palatine, 1471 (via Wikipedia commons)

Lehenbuch of Frederick I, Elector Palatine, 1471 (via Wikipedia commons)

Heraldry in state-rooms was displayed in a variety of media, including, but not limited to, paintings, stained-glass, sculptures, tiles, tapestries, curtains, furniture. As part of ceremonies, it also appeared as ephemeral decor. The topics of such heraldic programmes were diverse. They could represent genealogical, chivalric, legendary as well as historical and commemorative themes, reflect political networks and convey political and imaginary  ideas.

We particularly welcome comparative papers on the heraldic display of state-rooms and groups of state-rooms from different geographical, social and institutional contexts. Rather than only identifying the displayed coats of arms, contributions should address the heraldic ensembles in their entirety and locate them in their specific social and institutional contexts, aiming to further our understanding of the functions of heraldic display in the state-rooms and their visual programme.

Papers can be presented in English or French. Proposals (200 words in French or English) should be sent to heraldica@uni-muenster.de by 15 December 2015.

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The workshop is organised by Miguel Metelo de Seixas (Lisbon) and Torsten Hiltmann (Münster) as part of the Portuguese-German research project “In the Service of the Crown: The Use of Heraldry in Royal Political Communication in Late Medieval Portugal“, funded by the VolkswagenFoundation.

 

version française:

L’héraldique dans les salles d’apparat : vers une typologie des programmes héraldiques dans les lieux d’autoreprésentation (Moyen âge – Époque moderne) – Münster (Allemagne), 16-18 Mars 2016.

Sala dos brasões, royal palace in Sintra  (photo: TH)

Sala dos brasões, royal palace in Sintra (photo: TH)

Soit dans les palais royaux et princiers, les châteaux nobles, les résidences patriciennes, les hôtels de ville ou les chapitres de cathédrales, maintes salles d’apparat du Moyen-âge et de l’Époque moderne sont munies de programmes héraldiques. Alors même qu’ils font partie intégrante de l’arrangement de ces salles, ceux-ci ont été cependant peu étudiés jusqu’ici.

En regardant le rôle essentiel que l’héraldique a joué dans la communication sociale et politique à ces époques, il est cependant important d’inclure intégralement les programmes héraldiques dans la compréhension que nous avons de ces salles et de leurs fonctions ainsi que dans l’analyse de l’auto-représentation de leurs commanditaires et leurs usagers. Ces programmes étaient intimement liés aux fonctions des salles dans lesquelles ils étaient placés. Ils s’inscrivent dans l’enjeu d’autoreprésentation et de communication des commanditaires et des usagers.

Ce workshop a pour objectif de proposer une première vue d’ensemble de ces programmes héraldiques des salles d’apparat par travers le Moyen âge et l’Époque moderne en Europe et d’en proposer une première typologie. Dans ce but, nous voudrions intégrer à notre étude des salles d’apparat d’une grande diversité sociale et institutionnelle. Sous salles d’apparat nous entendons, dans ce contexte, des salles qui étaient utilisées pour des cérémonies et qui servaient surtout comme espace identitaire privilégié où étaient accueillis aussi bien les membres de la propre communauté, que ceux qui venaient de l’extérieur.

Salle de conseil de la ville de Stans,  Chronique de Diebold Schilling, 1511-1513 via e-codices)

Salle de conseil de la ville de Stans, Chronique de Diebold Schilling, 1511-1513 via e-codices)

Executés sur de différents supports, des peintures, vitraux, carreaux, sculptures, tapisseries et tentures, sur le mobilier, et parfois même sur des décors éphémères, ces programmes héraldiques présentaient divers sujets. Ils pouvaient proposer des lectures généalogiques, chevaleresques, légendaires, historiques, littéraires ou commémoratifs et refléter des réseaux ou des idéaux politiques et imaginaires. Nous aimerions bien étudier ces derniers sans les attribuer trop rapidement à un certain milieu social ou type d’institutions.

Pour le workshop, nous voudrions bien établir un ensemble de contributions qui puisse fournir une vision large qui atteigne le plus grand nombre possible de typologies aussi bien selon le genre de salles d’apparat que selon leurs programmes et leurs supports matériels. En ce faisant, bien au-delà de la simple identification des armoiries présentes, notre questionnement mise surtout à replacer l’ensemble de la représentation héraldique dans son contexte social et institutionnel. Nous cherchons à mettre en lumière la signification de ces programmes héraldiques et leur rôle dans le programme visuel et dans les fonctions de ces salles d’apparat.

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Les communications pourront être présentées en anglais ou français. Réponses souhaitées avant le 15 decembre 2015 avec un court résumé du propos (200 mots) en anglais ou français à l’adresse suivante: heraldica@uni-muenster.de.

Le workshop est co-organisé par Miguel Metelo de Seixas (Lisbonne) et Torsten Hiltmann (Münster) dans le cadre du projet de recherche lusitano-allemand “In the service of the Crown: The use of heraldry in royal political communication in late medieval Portugal“, financé par la Fondation Volkswagen.

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Cite this blog post
Torsten Hiltmann (2015, October 30). [CfP] Heraldry in Medieval and Early Modern State-Rooms: Towards a Typology of Heraldic Programmes in Spaces of Self-Representation – Münster, Germany, 16-18 March 2016. Heraldica Nova. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.58079/phxv

Torsten Hiltmann

Torsten Hiltmann is Juniorprofessor for the High and Late Middle Ages and Auxiliary Sciences at the University of Münster. He is interested in medieval and early modern visual communication and heraldry, the medieval notion of kingship and the methods and technologies of Digital Humanities.

4 Responses

  1. Maurizio Carlo Alberto Gorra says:

    Gentili colleghi, desidero porgere i miei complimenti per il tema proposto, e porre una domanda circa quest’interessante convegno, ricco di spunti ed allineato a un importante studio che sto conducendo in questi mesi nell’ambito di un’apposita Commissione istituita nel 2013 dall’Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei per approfondire lo studio dell’araldica nelle dimore storiche dei Cesi, la grande famiglia umbro-romana cui appartenne Federico (1585 – 1630), fondatore nel 1603 dell’Accademia stessa. I lavori della commissione sono coordinati dal dr. Andreas Rehberg, che sarà presente al convegno e parlerà anche della nostra ricerca e delle mie rilevazioni, in primis della ricostruzione da me effettuata del lacunoso doppio albero genealogico affrescato su un soffitto del castello Cesi di Sant’Angelo Romano (vicino a Roma). A questo titolo, vorrei chiedere se agli organizzatori e ai relatori sono noti altri cicli affrescati analoghi, ossia con alberi genealogici di due famiglie differenti, intrecciati fra loro e arricchiti da stemmi: a me sono noti solo alberi singoli (esempio: castello Valperga a Masino, Piemonte; castel Tratzberg a Stans, Austria; castel Coira a Sluderno, Bolzano). Grazie per ogni eventuale suggerimento, e ancora auguri di buon svolgimento dei lavori

    Maurizio Carlo Alberto Gorra (aih)
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    Dear collegues, I want to send my congratulations for the theme chosen, and I would ask for a question about this very interesting conference, full of ideas and inspirations and aligned to an important study I’m doing in those months within the framework of a special Commission established in 2013 by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei to deepen heraldic studies about historic castles and manors of the Cesi, the great Italian family from which belongs Federico (1585-1630), founder on 1603 of the same Accademia. The Commission works are coordinated by dr. Andreas Rehberg, who will be at the conference and speak also about our search and my heraldic detections, especially the reconstruction carried out by me of the twice genealogical tree (now incomplete) painted on a ceiling of the Sant’Angelo Romano’s Cesi castle, near Rome. About this, I would like to ask for organizers and lecturers, if someone knows other cycles of frescoes like it, that is with two different families’ genealogical trees intertwined and enriched by coats-of-arms: I know only single trees (i.e.: Valperga castle in Masino, Piedmont; Tratzberg castle in Stans, Austria; Coira castle in Sluderno, Bozen). Thanks for any suggestions, and still wishes for the progress of works

    Maurizio Carlo Alberto Gorra (aih)

    • Dear Maurizio Carlo Alberto Gorra, thank you very much for your very positive and welcome comment. On the workshop, Andreas Rehberg presented the work of your commission and your fascinating material in a very instructive way and I am looking forward very much to learning more about it. In any case, it would merit to be known to a broader, also English speaking public. I hope that the publication of Andreas Rehberg’s paper in our conference proceeding, accompanied by adequate illustrations, may contribute to that goal.
      Concerning your question: I was paying attention if there would be any other examples of intertwining family lines in one genealogical tree mentioned in the discussions. The only example fitting this description was a much later one, dating from the 19th century. It has been mentioned in the very last paper of the workshop, given by Judith Berger (http://heraldica.hypotheses.org/4466). But please feel free to write a blogpost presenting this very interesting question in more detail. We would be very glad to publish it on the blog in order to provoke comments and answers from other experts in this field!

  2. groot says:

    I can’t find out if you include churches and chapels as a state room. They perfectly fit this sentence: “The heraldic programmes appear to have been intimately tied to the functions of those rooms and the strategies of self-representation and communication employed by commissioners and users of such places.” But you don’t mention them.

    • Dear Groot,
      you’ve seen right, churches and chapels do not figure among the examples we’ve given in the call. We did that by purpose, since chapels and churches follow differnt rules if it comes to their heraldic decor. Those rooms serve primarely religious purposes. Representation comes second. What we are looking for are rooms (and their heraldic décor) which are made, first of all, for representation. But you are right. If you think, for instance, of some of the well arranged heraldic programmes in the ceiling of some of the chapels and churches, the line cannot be strictly drawn, here. So if you got a good idea for a paper on this matter, please let us know!
      Best wishes (and please say hello to the other Guardians for me)
      Torsten

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