On the History of the History of Art Research Unit
Within the historical context of the history of art departments in the German-speaking world, the research unit at the Technical University of Vienna maintains a distinguished position. As early as 1810, the designated director Johann Joseph Prechtel intended to establish a department for the history of arts and crafts at the Imperial and Royal Polytechnic Institute, as the Technical University of Vienna was previously known, with the aim of cultivating taste. The first lecture by the renowned art historian Rudolf Eitelberger (1817-1885) with the simple yet all-encompassing title “On the History of Art” was first held in 1849/50 aimed at architects and tradesmen. From 1866, lectures on the history of architecture were regularly held by the archaeologist Karl von Lützow (1932-1897), although he was not given a full professorship in the history of art until 1882. Lützow, like his successor Joseph Neuwirth (1855-1934), appointed in 1899, taught general history of art with particular emphasis on architecture. In the context of technical education, teaching the history of art encouraged universal, even political awareness. Neuwirth also initiated the introduction of heritage conservation as a subject in architectural education. Moritz Dreger (1868-1939), who was appointed in 1926, expanded the curriculum to include museum tours and history of art seminars.
Dreger’s replacement, Karl Ginhart (1888-1971), was only approved as an associate professorship. Consequentially, his appointment as a professor was linked to Ginhart joining the NSDAP in 1942. Following his denazification, the heritage conservator and proponent of Nordic-influenced Austrian art history held the chair from 1948 until his retirement in 1960. Walter Frodl (1908-1994), a former NSDAP member, held similar views and expanded teaching in the field of heritage conservation whilst developing closer ties with the Federal Office for the Protection of Monuments.
Following Gerold Weber’s (1941–2008) appointment in 1983, the scope of the subject was broadened in terms of both method and content, adopting a more global approach to the history of art. From 2004 to 2022, Robert Stalla (born 1957) expanded the international and interdisciplinary focus of the subject and discussed theoretical and practical issues in the context of exhibitions, publications and conferences. In 2023, Harald R. Stühlinger succeeded him as head of the History of Art Research Unit.
- Text
- Sabine Plakolm-Forsthuber
- Recherche
- Atreju Allahverdy
- Literatur
- Robert Stalla (Hrsg.), Kunstgeschichte an Polytechnischen Instituten, Technischen Hochschulen, Technischen Universitäten. Geschichte – Positionen – Perspektiven, Wien/Köln /Weimar 2021
- Quellen
- Archiv der Technischen Universität Wien Österreichisches Staatsarchiv
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1849-1850Rudolf Eitelberger
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1867-1897Karl von Lützow
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1899-1926Joseph Neuwirth
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1926-1936Moritz Dreger
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1936-1945, 1948-1960Karl Ginhart
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1960-1979Walter Frodl
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1983-2002Gerold Weber
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2004-2022Robert Stalla