28-29 Sept. 2006, OVN - Masonic symbolism in 18th century gardens - program
29.08.2006
SYMBOLISM
IN 18TH CENTURY GARDENS
The
Influence of Intellectual and Esoteric Currents, such as Freemasonry
28-29
September 2006, Schloss Schwetzingen, Germany
During the 18th century, freemasonry provided a social network
for men of different walks of life, including many aristocrats, intellectuals,
artists and architects. Membership of a masonic order was socially accepted at
the time and it was even fashionable to make one’s membership subtly known to
others, for instance through the use of domestic objects with symbolic
decorations. Also the decoration of houses could be used in this respect.
In
the same time period, garden design and landscape art incorporated classical,
mythological and religious symbolism, and gardens became an expression of the
status, personality and learning of their owners. It was not uncommon for a
garden design to include ‘hidden’ symbolism, for the path through a garden
to reflect a journey of initiation, or for architectural follies to be built in
the shape of masonic temples. This symbolism was purposefully ‘hidden’,
meant to be discovered by the initiated or to enlighten the visitor with new
insights. Today, we are no longer familiar with common 18th century
iconography and unable to read the visual clues to the meaning of such gardens.
Art
historical approaches and heritage preservation policies are traditionally based
on Christian iconography, and have largely overlooked the importance of masonic
and esoteric symbolism to art, architecture and garden design. Recent academic
studies, however, have shown the importance of masonic heritage to our cultural
collective heritage and brought the hidden symbolism in historical gardens to
the centre of attention.
This
conference aims to provide an introduction into the masonic and esoteric
symbolism in 18th century garden architecture, provide an overview of
recent academic research into the subject, and raise awareness of the importance
of preserving the remaining sites as a part of our cultural heritage.
The
conference takes place at the summer residence of ‘Kurfürst’
Carl
Theodor in Schwetzingen, the location of one of the oldest, most intricate and
best preserved masonic gardens in the world.
Registration:
All who are interested in the subject of this conference are welcome. For
organisational reasons, registration is requested before September 15th, 2006.
Please register with Dr. Monika Scholl <heinz.p.frey@t-online.de>.
Dates:
September 28th and 29th, 2006.
Location:
Schwetzingen Castle, Southern Wing (Südlicher Zirkel des Schlosses in
Schwetzingen)
Organizers:
OVN (Foundation for the advancement of academic research into the history
of freemasonty in the Netherlands), together with ‘Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg,
Amt Mannheim’, the Institute for the Schollarly Study of Religions and the
Institute for the History of Art of the University of Heidelberg.
Conference
fee:
50 Euro; reduced fee of 25 Euro for members of the OVN, the ESSWE, and
(PhD) students. The conference fee is to be paid on arrival and includes
tea/coffee and conference hand outs. (Lunch is excluded. Participants can have
lunch at a café or restaurant of their choice near the venue.)
Conference
Program ‘Symbolism
in 18th Century Gardens.
The
Influence of Intellectual and Esoteric Currents, such as Freemasonry’
Thursday
28/9/2006:
8:30
Registration, Coffee
9:30
Siegfried Kendel (Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg, Amt Mannheim): Welcome
SESSION
I: GENERAL INTRODUCTIONS (I) (Snoek)
9:45
Prof. Dr. James Stevens Curl (Professor Emeritus Queen’s University,
Belfast & De Montfort University, Leicester): ‘Symbolism in Gardens: An Introduction’
10:30
Discussion
10:45 Pause
SESSION II: GENERAL INTRODUCTIONS (II) (Scholl)
11:15
Caroline Holmes (Tutor of Garden History, Institute of Continuing
Education, University of Cambridge): ‘A Rose by Any Other Name? – An
Introduction to the Symbolism of
Plants and Planting’
11:45
Dr. Cristina Ruggero (Bibliotheca
Hertziana, Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte,
Roma): ‘Denkmäler für
internationale Freunde. Juvarras “Capricci” und ihre Symbolik’
12:15
Discussion
12:30
Lunch
SESSION III: MASONIC GARDENS THROUGHOUT EUROPE (I) (Scholl)
14:00
Prof. Dr. Patrizia Granziera (University of Cuernavaca, Mexico):
‘Politics and Freemasonic Symbolism in 18th Century Venetian Architecture and
Garden Design’
14:30
Discussion
14:45
Pause
SESSION
IV: SCHWETZINGEN (Curl)
15:15
Dr. Monika Scholl (Kunsthistorikerin, Offenburg): ‘Minerva und Arion: “Schnäppchen“
für Schwetzingen?’
16:00
Prof. Dr. Jan Snoek (Universität Heidelberg): ‘Die “Fabriques” im
englischen Gartenteil, ein wahlloses Durcheinander?’
16:45
Discussion
17:00-19:00
First guided tour through the Schwetzingen Garden (3 x 20 participants)
20:00
Dinner of speakers and organizers
Friday
29/9/2006:
8:30
Registration, Coffee
SESSION V: MASONIC GARDENS THROUGHOUT EUROPE (II) (Snoek)
9:00
Dr. Heimerick Tromp (independent scholar, The Netherlands): ‘Symbolism
in 18th-Century Gardens in The Netherlands: The Masonic Contribution’
9:30
Wim Oers (M.Sc.
University Leuven, M.Sc. University College London, Bristol University):
‘Schönenberg, a Palace in the Age of the Enlightenment’
10:00
Discussion
10:15
Pause
SESSION VI: MASONIC GARDENS THROUGHOUT EUROPE (III) (Scholl)
10:45
Annegreth Dietze MA (Doktorandin Universität Ås, Norwegen):
‘Freimaureraktivitäten in Norwegen und die Bedeutung für die norwegische
Gartenkunst des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts’
11:15
Erik Westengaard (Curator Nationalhistoriske Museum, Frederiksborg /
Danske Frimurerordens Museum, Copenhagen): “Gardens of the Mind. A Walk
Through the Masonic Symbolism of Three Gardens in Denmark: Louisenlund, Jægerspris
and Sanderumgaard”
11:45
Agata Michalska MA (PhD Candidate, Poznan University of Technology):
‘The Influence of Freemasonry and Esoteric Ideas on Landscape Design during
the Enlightenment in Poland’
12:15
Discussion
12:30
Lunch
SESSION VII: GARDENS WITH A DIFFERENT FLAVOUR (Scholl)
14:00
Sascha Winter MA (Doktorand Universität Heidelberg): ‘“Wo der Tod
winkt, lächelt das Leben”: Gräber von Freimaurern und Rosenkreuzern in Gärten
um 1800’
14:30
Berit Ruge MA (Doktorandin Freie Universität Berlin): ‘Der Einfluss
des Ordens der Gold- und Rosenkreuzer auf Gartengestaltungen der Spätaufklärung
in Deutschland am Beispiel alchemistischer Symbolik’
15:00
Discussion
15:15
Pause
SESSION
VIII: MASONIC GARDENS THROUGHOUT EUROPE (IV)
(Snoek)
15:45
Frank Albo BA (MA Student, University of Amsterdam): ‘The Masonic
Garden “Desert de Retz”, near Paris’
16:15
Discussion
CLOSING
SESSION (Ahn)
16:30
General discussion
16:50
The organizers: Words of thanks
17:00
End of the conference.
17:00-19:00
Second guided tour through the Schwetzingen Garden (3 x 20 participants)
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