HomeHeraldry in Medieval and Early Modern State-Rooms
Heraldry in Medieval and Early Modern State-Rooms
L’héraldique dans les salles d’apparat
Towards a Typology of Heraldic Programmes in Spaces of Self-Representation
Vers une typologie des programmes héraldiques dans les lieux d’autoreprésentation
Published on Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Abstract
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. 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.
Announcement
Münster, Germany, 16-18 March 2016
Argument
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.
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.
Submission guidelines
Papers can be presented in English or French.
Proposals should be sent together with an abstract (200 words) in English or French to heraldica@uni-muenster.de
by 15th December 2015.
Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated by the organizors
- Miguel Metelo de Seixas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa
- Torsten Hiltmann, University of Münster
Organisation
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.
Subjects
- Representation (Main category)
- Mind and language > Representation > Cultural history
- Periods > Early modern > Sixteenth century
- Periods > Early modern > Seventeenth century
- Mind and language > Representation > History of art
- Periods > Middle Ages > High and Late Middle Ages
- Mind and language > Representation > Cultural identities
- Mind and language > Representation > Architecture
Places
- Room 101 - Johannisstr. 4
Münster, Federal Republic of Germany (48143)
Date(s)
- Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Keywords
- héraldique, identité, armoirie
Contact(s)
- Torsten Hiltmann
courriel : digitalhistory [at] hu-berlin [dot] de
Reference Urls
Information source
- Torsten Hiltmann
courriel : digitalhistory [at] hu-berlin [dot] de
License
This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.
To cite this announcement
« Heraldry in Medieval and Early Modern State-Rooms », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, https://doi.org/10.58079/tu5
