Otto Demus
Encyclopedia
Otto Demus was an Austrian art historian and Byzantinist. He is considered a member of the Vienna School of Art History
.
Between 1921 and 1928, Demus studied art history at the University of Vienna
under Josef Strzygowski
, receiving his Ph.D. summa cum laude. In the following years Demus travelled throughout Greece, photographing the mosaics of its Byzantine churches in color, a project that resulted in his first major publication, Byzantine mosaics in Greece (1931), written together with Ernst Diez. He also worked for Austria's historical preservation service, documenting and restoring the medieval monuments of Carinthia
. In 1936 he returned to Vienna, and defended his Habilitation the following year. Armed with this necessary qualification, Demus began to lecture on the history at the University of Vienna.
Following the Anschluss
in 1938, however, Demus resolved to leave Austria, now under Nazi control, and emigrated to Great Britain
in 1939, where he found employment as a librarian at the Warburg Institute
and as a lecturer at the Courtauld Institute of Art
. The main scholarly fruits of his British years were his highly influential essay on middle Byzantine mosaic programs, Byzantine mosaic decoration (1947), and his foundational study of the Mosaics of Norman Sicily (1949).
In 1946 Demus returned to Austria, accepting a position as president of the newly organized Bundesdenkmalamt (Federal Monuments Office), a post he would occupy for nearly twenty years. He was a frequent fellow at Dumbarton Oaks
in Washington, which allowed him time to continue his studies in Byzantine art. These researches resulted in a study of The church at San Marco in Venice: history, architecture, sculpture (1960). In 1963, Demus was appointed Professor of art history at the University of Vienna, which he and the manuscript specialist Otto Pächt
turned into a "Mekka der Mittelalterkunstgeschichte" ("a mecca for medieval art history").
Demus's books from this period turned increasingly to western medieval art: Romanische Wandmalerei (Romanesque wall painting) (1968), a thoughtful study masquerading as a coffee table book, and Byzantine art and the West (1970), the product of his Wrightsman Lectures at New York University
.
Late in life, already having turned 70, Demus embarked on the most ambitious scholarly project of his career, namely the restoration and documentation of the mosaics of San Marco
in Venice. Demus was an untiring participant in the project, ascending the scaffolding daily to inspect the mosaics first hand, and the result was the his monumental The mosaics of San Marco in Venice (1984). Having now turned 80, Demus undertook one final project, the documentation of the late medieval art of Carinthia, where he had served in the monuments service in his youth. Demus drove to the sites and took the photos himself, producing in the end the 750-page Spätgotischen Altäre Kärntens (The late Gothic altars of Carinthia) (1991).
Demus was the consummate Viennese art historian, trusting his eye and developing a massive visual repertoire through the painstaking first-hand inspection of monuments. This side of his activity was expressed in his major monographic studies. He was also, however, "the master of the short essay, which set him free from the demands of a 'serious' book." His highly intellectual and imaginative Byzantine mosaic decoration has been described as "one of the most important books on medieval art this century", and displays the imprint of the old master of Viennese art history, Alois Riegl
.
Vienna School of Art History
The Vienna School of Art History is a collective term used to describe the development of fundamental art-historical methods at the University of Vienna...
.
Between 1921 and 1928, Demus studied art history at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
under Josef Strzygowski
Josef Strzygowski
Josef Strzygowski was a German art historian known for his theory on the influence of Early Christian Armenian architecture on the early Medieval architecture of Europe, outlined in his book, Die Baukunst der Armenier und Europa...
, receiving his Ph.D. summa cum laude. In the following years Demus travelled throughout Greece, photographing the mosaics of its Byzantine churches in color, a project that resulted in his first major publication, Byzantine mosaics in Greece (1931), written together with Ernst Diez. He also worked for Austria's historical preservation service, documenting and restoring the medieval monuments of Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
. In 1936 he returned to Vienna, and defended his Habilitation the following year. Armed with this necessary qualification, Demus began to lecture on the history at the University of Vienna.
Following the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
in 1938, however, Demus resolved to leave Austria, now under Nazi control, and emigrated to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in 1939, where he found employment as a librarian at the Warburg Institute
Warburg Institute
The Warburg Institute is a research institution associated with the University of London in central London, England. A member of the School of Advanced Study, its focus is the study of the influence of classical antiquity on all aspects of European civilisation.-History:The Institute was founded by...
and as a lecturer at the Courtauld Institute of Art
Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld Institute of Art is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art. The Courtauld is one of the premier centres for the teaching of art history in the world; it was the only History of Art department in the UK to be awarded a top...
. The main scholarly fruits of his British years were his highly influential essay on middle Byzantine mosaic programs, Byzantine mosaic decoration (1947), and his foundational study of the Mosaics of Norman Sicily (1949).
In 1946 Demus returned to Austria, accepting a position as president of the newly organized Bundesdenkmalamt (Federal Monuments Office), a post he would occupy for nearly twenty years. He was a frequent fellow at Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks is the conventional name for the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, situated on a historic property in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The institution is administered by the Trustees for Harvard University. Its founders, Robert Woods Bliss and his wife...
in Washington, which allowed him time to continue his studies in Byzantine art. These researches resulted in a study of The church at San Marco in Venice: history, architecture, sculpture (1960). In 1963, Demus was appointed Professor of art history at the University of Vienna, which he and the manuscript specialist Otto Pächt
Otto Pächt
Otto Pächt was an Austrian art historian.- Life and work :His father David Pächt was from Bukovina, and mother Josefine Freundlich was a member of the IKG Wien....
turned into a "Mekka der Mittelalterkunstgeschichte" ("a mecca for medieval art history").
Demus's books from this period turned increasingly to western medieval art: Romanische Wandmalerei (Romanesque wall painting) (1968), a thoughtful study masquerading as a coffee table book, and Byzantine art and the West (1970), the product of his Wrightsman Lectures at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Late in life, already having turned 70, Demus embarked on the most ambitious scholarly project of his career, namely the restoration and documentation of the mosaics of San Marco
St Mark's Basilica
The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture...
in Venice. Demus was an untiring participant in the project, ascending the scaffolding daily to inspect the mosaics first hand, and the result was the his monumental The mosaics of San Marco in Venice (1984). Having now turned 80, Demus undertook one final project, the documentation of the late medieval art of Carinthia, where he had served in the monuments service in his youth. Demus drove to the sites and took the photos himself, producing in the end the 750-page Spätgotischen Altäre Kärntens (The late Gothic altars of Carinthia) (1991).
Demus was the consummate Viennese art historian, trusting his eye and developing a massive visual repertoire through the painstaking first-hand inspection of monuments. This side of his activity was expressed in his major monographic studies. He was also, however, "the master of the short essay, which set him free from the demands of a 'serious' book." His highly intellectual and imaginative Byzantine mosaic decoration has been described as "one of the most important books on medieval art this century", and displays the imprint of the old master of Viennese art history, Alois Riegl
Alois Riegl
Alois Riegl was an Austrian art historian, and is considered a member of the Vienna School of Art History...
.
External links
- Otto Demus at the Biographical Dictionary of Art Historians