Conference Dedicated to the 105th Birth Anniversary of Sten Karling

An international conference entitled "Art and Ritual in Late Medieval and
Early Modern Northern and Central Europe" will be held in Tallinn on
September 1–3, 2011.The conference is organised by the Institute of Art
History of the Estonian Academy of Arts and the Centre for Medieval
Studies, Tallinn University.The medieval as well as the early modern era
were highly visual periods in which images, objects and performances played
a relevant representative, communicative, and constitutive role in both
secular and religious spheres of the society. Images, spaces and rituals
were closely interconnected; hence, the complex study of these phenomena is
essential for a better understanding of the medieval and early modern
societies and people.The interdisciplinary conference in Tallinn aims to
discuss these interconnections by bringing together experts in the fields
of art history, cultural history, theology and church history, theatre
history, anthropology, etc. Topics to be discussed include church, court
and civic ceremonies, performative aspect of festivals, rituals associated
with images, rituals of dying and commemoration, (self)representation of
individuals and different social groups, art and architecture as means of
symbolic communication.The event is to continue the tradition of the
Karling conferences, dating back to 1996. Sten Karling (1906–1987) was
Professor of Art History at the University of Tartu/Dorpat (1933–1940)
and Stockholm University (1947–1972). His main research areas were
medieval and early modern art and architecture.The opening paper will be
presented on September 1 at 18:00 at the Niguliste Museum (St. Nicholas’
Church, Niguliste St 3). The venue for the following two conference days is
Auditorium 1 of Tallinn University Institute of History (Rüütli St
10). The presentations will start at 9:00 on both days. The conference
languages are English and German.For further information please
contactMartin JänesCentre for Medieval StudiesTallinn UniversityEmail:
martin.janes@tlu.ee
PROGRAMMEThursday, September 1Venue: Niguliste Museum (St Nicholas’
Church), Niguliste Street 318:00–20:00 Opening and Reception-
Opening remarks. Krista Kodres- Late Medieval Art and the Mutability of
Ritual. Gerhard JaritzFollowed by Welcome ReceptionFriday, September
2Venue: Institute of History, Rüütli Street 10, Auditorium 109:00–12:45
– Morning session (Moderator: Gerhard Jaritz)- Welcome and opening
remarks. Erki Russow, Director of Tallinn University Institute of History,
and Katrin Kivimaa, Head of the Institute of Art History of the Estonian
Academy of Arts- The Gaze of Power, the Act of Obedience: Interpreting
Byzantine Wall Paintings in Trakai. Giedrė Mickūnaitė (Lithuania)-
Taufe und die königliche Salbung: Bildrhetorik der Waldemar-Dynastie
aufeinigen schonischen und dänischen Taufsteinen. Kersti
Markus10:50–11:15 – Coffee break- In Between the Secular and the
Religious: the Meaning, Function and Role in Society of Some Late Mediaeval
and Early Modern Funeral Monuments in the NorthernNetherlands. Juliette
Roding- Images of Succession. Portals of Palace Churches in Relation to
Contemporary Ceremonies of Acclamation and Coronation. Hugo
Johannsen12:45–14:00 – Lunch14:00–17:30 – Evening session
(Moderator: Juhan Kreem)- Dining as an Emperor. The Tafelstube as an
Architectural and Ceremonial Innovation in German Renaissance Palaces.
Stephan Hoppe- The Art of Rituals. How Samuel Pepys Treated His Eyes and
Ears. Ruth Mohrmann15:30–16:00 – Coffee break- Vivat protector patriae.
The Ceremony of Making Outh and its Pictorial Program in 1690 in Reval.
Krista Kodres- State Rituals as lieux de mémoire. Reactivating Rituals in
the 18th Century Danish Art and Architecture. Birgitte Bøggild
JohannsenSaturday, September 3Venue: Institute of History, Rüütli Street
10, Auditorium 109:00–12:30 – Morning session (Moderator: Marek Tamm)-
The Self-representation of Late Medieval Cistercian Abbots in Central
Europe. Emilia Jamroziak- Women, Memoria and Church Art in Late Medieval
Livonia. Anu Mänd10:30–11:00 – Coffee break- The Rosary and the Wounds
of Christ - Iconography in Relation to Late Medieval Liturgy and Piety.
Stina Fallberg-Sundmark- Consecration Crosses and the Definition of Sacred
Space in Late Medieval England. Andrew Spicer12:30–13:30 –
Lunch13:30–17:00 – Evening session (Moderator: Krista Kodres)- Welche
Rolle spielten Wand- und Kronleuchter in lutherischen Kirchen der frühen
Neuzeit? Jürgen Beyer- The Art of Exile: English Convent Churches in
France and the Low Countries. Margit Thofner15:00–15:30 – Coffee break-
Image and Time – Altar and Retable. Some Reflections on the Motif of The
Last Supper in Lutheran Churches. Martin Wangsgaard Jürgensen- Morian and
Merian. Word and Image: the Painting for Teaching Catechism in Keila/Kegel
Church (1669). Aivar Põldvee