Sculpture of the Eighteenth Century in Germany

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Roland Kanz
• Subject Area: Art History
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 280826705

Sculpture of the eighteenth century in Germany shows outstanding productivity in comparison with other European countries. The research project is a new attempt after more than a half century to give a new overview based on advanced art-historical and media analysis throug-hout the heterogeneous, multifaceted and innovative sculptural production in the German territorial states of the eighteenth century. Therefore, this century will be studied as a unity of change (contrary to the usual division into Baroque/Rococo versus Neo-Classicism) to point out more precisely all the traditions and consistencies, as well as all the breakings and paradoxes. The aim of the research project is to test the genus field of sculpture, new methodological approaches that recognize the three-dimensional medium in its proper role, beyond the one-sided focus of visual studies on the two-dimensional image, like the» iconic turn« used to do. Figurative sculpture conveys in its specific form, as well as with its spatial and narrative contexts a knowledge about art that shows complex solutions for sculptural functions throughout the Age of Enlightenment. The study investigates foundations to understand sculpture as a system of visual readings.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants