Research

The Department Michalsky Cities and Spaces in Premodernity focuses geographically on Southern Italy and more specifically on Naples and the Mediterranean region. It investigates historical concepts of space, how they have evolved from premodern to modern times, and how different media (for example, cinema as discussed in prisma) have both provided the context for this evolution and determined the path it has taken. Under the heading Art of the Modern Age in a Global Context, Tristan Weddigen’s Department promotes research that maps the global relations of Italian art from the early modern period to today, explores the intellectual and socio-political history of the discipline, and pioneers initiatives in Digital Art History. Max Planck Research Groups are a cornerstone of the support the Max Planck Society is committed to giving early career researchers. During the reporting period the Hertziana hosted two research groups: Visualizing Science in Media Revolutions (Max Planck Research Group) led by Sietske Fransen, and Decay, Loss, and Conservation in Art History (Lise Meitner Group) led by Francesca Borgo.