DOI article:
Grzegorz First: Between Two Emerging Disciplines Art History in Vienna and Classical Archaeology in Cracow on the Breakthroughs in Art
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73804#0036
Folia Historiae Artium
Seria Nowa, t. 22: 2024/PL ISSN 0071-6723
GRZEGORZ FIRST
The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow
BETWEEN TWO EMERGING DISCIPLINES
ART HISTORY IN VIENNA AND CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
IN CRACOW ON THE BREAKTHROUGHS IN ART
The second half of the 19th c. marked the birth and defini-
tion of many Humanities disciplines, among which stud-
ies on the arts took a significant place. Studies in art histo-
ry, of course, had been conducted earlier, especially when
the focus was on ancient art. In this regard, the 18th c. was
a pivotal period, particularly with the discoveries of Pom-
peii and Herculaneum, and the groundbreaking work of
Johann Joachim Winckelmann, The History of Art in An-
tiquity, opened up the history of classical archaelogy as
the field of research of ancient art1. The art historians and
archaeologists based in Vienna played a significant role in
shaping both disciplines, although their activity primarily
unfolded in the 19th c., with the work of Rudolf Eitelberger
considered as a starting point.2 The beginnings of the his-
tory of art in Cracow and, almost simultaneously, of clas-
sical archaeology, are closely tied to this center due to its
political affiliation, as well.
The influence of the Viennese center, particularly the
school of art history, on Cracow in the realm of research
on ancient art and the formation of modern archaeology
as a university discipline in the Polish territories can be
examined on several levels. Firstly, in terms of the chosen
1 J. J. Winckelmann, Geschichte der Kunst des Alterthums, Dres-
den 1764 [Polish version Dzieje sztuki starożytnej, transl. T. Za-
torski, ed. W. Bałus, Kraków 2012]; cf. also R. Bianchi Bandi-
nelli, Introduzione all'archeologia classica come storia dell'arte
antica, Roma 1976 (2022) [Polish version Archeologia klasyczna
jako historia sztuki, Warszawa 1988] and idem, Nozioni di storia
dell'archeologia e di storiografia dell'arte antica: lezioni introduttive
del corso di archeologia, Florence 1952.
2 About the Viennese art history school cf. M. Rampley, The Vi-
enna School of Art History, Empire and the Politics of Scholarship,
1847-1918, Pennsylvania 2013.
research topics, there is often a connection with the Vi-
ennese inclination towards studying late ancient and ear-
ly Christian art, as well as decorative arts, which aligns
closely with archaeology. The second level involves the
adopted research methodology, focusing on in-depth
analysis of source materials available in Vienna or Cracow
collections, leading to the application of methods such as
stylistic analysis. The third dimension encompasses in-
stitutional and organizational issues, inherently linked to
Cracow's affiliation with the Habsburg Monarchy and the
presence of shared political views and the social climate
of the era.3 These dimensions are particularly significant
in the context of research on ancient art, but they do not
exhaust all the dependencies and relationships concern-
ing the influence of Vienna on the emerging center of art
history and archaeology in Cracow.4
3 M. Olin, 'Alois Riegl: The Late Roman Empire in the Late
Habsburg Empire', in: The Habsburg Legacy: National Identity in
Historical Perspective, eds R. Robertson, E. Timms, Edinburgh
1994, pp. 107-120.
4 A more comprehensive exploration of the relations between the
Viennese center and the Cracow center in the field of art history -
cf. A. Małkiewicz, 'Historia sztuki w Polsce a "wiedeńska szkoła
historii Sztuki'", Rocznik Historii Sztuki, 16, 1987, pp. 331-336;
M. Kunińska, 'Marian Sokołowski: Patriotism and the Genesis
of Scientific Art History in Poland', Journal of Art Historiography,
8, 2013, pp. 1-17; eadem, 'Identity Built on Myth. Fact and Fiction
in the Foundational Narrative of the "Cracow School of Art His-
tory" and its Relations to Vienna, Journal of Art Historiography,
25, 2021, pp. 1-20. Regarding the history of classical archaeology
in Cracow - J. Śliwa, 'Archeologia śródziemnomorska w Uniwer-
sytecie Jagiellońskim (1897-1998)', Meander, 72, 2017, pp. 143-163.
Seria Nowa, t. 22: 2024/PL ISSN 0071-6723
GRZEGORZ FIRST
The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow
BETWEEN TWO EMERGING DISCIPLINES
ART HISTORY IN VIENNA AND CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
IN CRACOW ON THE BREAKTHROUGHS IN ART
The second half of the 19th c. marked the birth and defini-
tion of many Humanities disciplines, among which stud-
ies on the arts took a significant place. Studies in art histo-
ry, of course, had been conducted earlier, especially when
the focus was on ancient art. In this regard, the 18th c. was
a pivotal period, particularly with the discoveries of Pom-
peii and Herculaneum, and the groundbreaking work of
Johann Joachim Winckelmann, The History of Art in An-
tiquity, opened up the history of classical archaelogy as
the field of research of ancient art1. The art historians and
archaeologists based in Vienna played a significant role in
shaping both disciplines, although their activity primarily
unfolded in the 19th c., with the work of Rudolf Eitelberger
considered as a starting point.2 The beginnings of the his-
tory of art in Cracow and, almost simultaneously, of clas-
sical archaeology, are closely tied to this center due to its
political affiliation, as well.
The influence of the Viennese center, particularly the
school of art history, on Cracow in the realm of research
on ancient art and the formation of modern archaeology
as a university discipline in the Polish territories can be
examined on several levels. Firstly, in terms of the chosen
1 J. J. Winckelmann, Geschichte der Kunst des Alterthums, Dres-
den 1764 [Polish version Dzieje sztuki starożytnej, transl. T. Za-
torski, ed. W. Bałus, Kraków 2012]; cf. also R. Bianchi Bandi-
nelli, Introduzione all'archeologia classica come storia dell'arte
antica, Roma 1976 (2022) [Polish version Archeologia klasyczna
jako historia sztuki, Warszawa 1988] and idem, Nozioni di storia
dell'archeologia e di storiografia dell'arte antica: lezioni introduttive
del corso di archeologia, Florence 1952.
2 About the Viennese art history school cf. M. Rampley, The Vi-
enna School of Art History, Empire and the Politics of Scholarship,
1847-1918, Pennsylvania 2013.
research topics, there is often a connection with the Vi-
ennese inclination towards studying late ancient and ear-
ly Christian art, as well as decorative arts, which aligns
closely with archaeology. The second level involves the
adopted research methodology, focusing on in-depth
analysis of source materials available in Vienna or Cracow
collections, leading to the application of methods such as
stylistic analysis. The third dimension encompasses in-
stitutional and organizational issues, inherently linked to
Cracow's affiliation with the Habsburg Monarchy and the
presence of shared political views and the social climate
of the era.3 These dimensions are particularly significant
in the context of research on ancient art, but they do not
exhaust all the dependencies and relationships concern-
ing the influence of Vienna on the emerging center of art
history and archaeology in Cracow.4
3 M. Olin, 'Alois Riegl: The Late Roman Empire in the Late
Habsburg Empire', in: The Habsburg Legacy: National Identity in
Historical Perspective, eds R. Robertson, E. Timms, Edinburgh
1994, pp. 107-120.
4 A more comprehensive exploration of the relations between the
Viennese center and the Cracow center in the field of art history -
cf. A. Małkiewicz, 'Historia sztuki w Polsce a "wiedeńska szkoła
historii Sztuki'", Rocznik Historii Sztuki, 16, 1987, pp. 331-336;
M. Kunińska, 'Marian Sokołowski: Patriotism and the Genesis
of Scientific Art History in Poland', Journal of Art Historiography,
8, 2013, pp. 1-17; eadem, 'Identity Built on Myth. Fact and Fiction
in the Foundational Narrative of the "Cracow School of Art His-
tory" and its Relations to Vienna, Journal of Art Historiography,
25, 2021, pp. 1-20. Regarding the history of classical archaeology
in Cracow - J. Śliwa, 'Archeologia śródziemnomorska w Uniwer-
sytecie Jagiellońskim (1897-1998)', Meander, 72, 2017, pp. 143-163.