Calenda Listing 1,439,304 (excerpts)
The cultural heritage of the medieval and modern eras fascinates and attracts visitors. Whether it’s historic buildings, major museum collections, or historical exhibitions, visitor numbers have been steadily rising for years. There are many reasons for this success, but the objects at the center of interest share a common trait: they were not created as artifacts of a particular culture, but served very specific and practical purposes. What is today perceived as a reflection of a culture—often described as national, regional, or European—was in reality created within contexts of noble patronage. But who were these patrons? The French Ministry of Culture defines patronage as “material support provided, without direct compensation from the beneficiary, to a work or a person for the pursuit of activities of general interest.” The question remains open as to whether the medieval and modern periods indeed witnessed phenomena that we can today call “patronage.” On the one hand, princely patronage has been identified as one of the foundations of the figure of the “artist” in literature, painting, and other fields. Furthermore, the field of cultural history in recent decades has clearly demonstrated the political effects and consequences of cultural production within the context of princely courts.
Between these two poles, our conference aims to bring together a series of case studies that will provide a better understanding of the issues surrounding cultural production at French, German, and neighboring courts during the medieval and modern periods: Who were the potential “patrons,” and what motivated them to invest in artistic production? To what extent were political interests and stakes involved? What role did artistic and aesthetic pleasure play? And what significance can be attributed to religion and spirituality?
On the occasion of this international conference, the Foundation for the Protection of Cultural, Historical, and Artisanal Heritage will bring its nearly 30 years of activity to a close. It has supported more than 350 projects in Switzerland and abroad, contributed to more than 150 publications, and awarded nearly 40 fellowships to doctoral students and researchers. The opening session of the conference will thus be devoted both to patronage throughout medieval and modern history and to a reflection on the future of patronage.
