Masonic & Esoteric Heritage. A New Perspective for Art and Conservation
Policies

Conference 20-21 October 2005, Royal Library, Den Haag (The Netherlands)

The renovation of the building of the Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij
in Amsterdam (1919), carried out to accommodate the Amsterdam Municipal
Archive, has stimulated a heated discussion between experts on western
esotericism, art history, conservation and cultural heritage. The
building was designed by the renowned Dutch architect K.P.C. de Bazel,
who was a member of theosophical and masonic organizations. The
architectural design, as well as the use of specific materials and
decoration, encompasses a rich theosophical symbolism. Should this
original symbolism be kept intact or be allowed to be radically altered
to suit the needs of the Amsterdam Municipal Archive? The case has
highlighted a problem area in current art and heritage policies, that
will be addressed at the conference for the first time in an
international context.

While it is widely accepted that world religions such as christianity,
islam, judaism and hinduism have profoundly influenced art and
architecture, it has not been acknowledged that western esoteric currents
(such as freemasonry and theosophy) have influenced many celebrated
artists and architects in the same way. The traditional approach to
western art is based on christian iconography, which does not reflect the
much wider range of cultural and religious currents that have shaped
western society and art. As a result of this oversight, surviving
examples of the material culture of western esoteric currents are not
recognized as an integral part of our collective cultural heritage and
are insufficiently documented, studied and preserved.

The conference will offer participants an introduction into the rich
material culture of western esoteric currents, including 18th-20th
century architecture, lodge and temple interiors, ritual and decorative
objects, works of art, prints, books, archival and photographic
materials.

The study of western esoteric currents and the study of freemasonry have
developed into new academic disciplines with chairs at universities in
Paris, Sheffield, Amsterdam and Leiden. Recent research has offered
important new insights into the influence of these currents on western
society, literature and art since the renaissance. These insights have
stimulated the call for a change in current art and heritage policies.

Most art historians, conservation specialists and cultural policy makers
are unfamiliar with western esotericism, and subsequently are unable to
recognize alchemical, rosicrucian, masonic, theosophical,
anthroposophical or other esoteric symbolism in a work of art or an
architectural design. This can adversely effect art historical
interpretations, decisions made during a restoration process, and the
outcome of applications for alterations to protected buildings. The
renovation of the building of the Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij has
illustrated the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation between
experts in the field of art history, conservation and western
esotericism.

The conference will bring these experts together for the first time.
Scholars and PhD-students in various academic disciplines will address
the relevance of esoteric symbolism to art and the problems affecting
esoteric heritage, in order to create an international and
interdisciplinary dialogue, facilitate solutions and stimulate research
and education. This event will be an eye-opener for anyone interested in
art, cultural heritage or western esotericism.

Conference organizers and sponsors

The conference is organized by:

- the OVN, an independent Dutch Foundation for the Advancement of
Academic Research into the

History of Freemasonry in the Netherlands, in cooperation with:

- the Sub Dept. History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents
(University of Amsterdam),

- the Chair for Cultural Heritage, Conservation and Restoration
(University of Amsterdam),

- the OSK, the Dutch Postgraduate School for Art History
(Onderzoeksschool Kunstgeschiedenis).

Preliminary conference program

Thursday 20-10-2005

09.15-10.00 Registration and coffee

Theme: The Relevance of Western Esotericism to Art:

10.00-10.15 Welcome and introduction

10.15-10.45 prof. dr. Wouter Hanegraaff, Chair for the History of
Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents, Univ. of Amsterdam: ‘Western
Esotericism and the Status of the Image’.

10.45-11.15 dr. Hendrik Bogdan, researcher Dept. Religious Studies,
Univ. of Gotheborg: ‘Illustrated Alchemical and Esoteric Manuscripts in
the Collection of Gustav Adolph Reuterholm (1756-1813) in Sweden’.

11.15-11.45 Diane Clements, director Library and Museum of
Freemasonry, London: ‘The English Grand Lodge as Patron of the Arts. The
Commission of Architecture and Art for Freemasons Hall (1776) in London’.

11.45-12.05 Questions

12.05-13.30 Lunch break

13.30-14.00 dr. Christopher McIntosh, independent historian and
author, Hamburg: ‘The Symbol-Strewn Landscape. Esoteric and Initiatic
Symbolism in European Gardens in the 18th and 19th Century’.

14.00-14.30 drs. Melanie Öhlenbach, student Comparative Religion,
Philipps-Univ. Marburg: ‘The influence of Jacob Böhme’s theosophical
ideas on the “Farbentheorie” by Philip Otto Runge’.
14.30-15.00 dr. Helmut Zander, political scientist, Inst. For
Historical studies, Humboldt-Univ. Berlin: ‘The First Goetheanum in
Dornach by Rudolf Steiner (1913-1922). Understanding Occult Space’.

15.00-15.20 Questions

15.20-15.40 Tea Break

15.40-16.10 dr. Marijo Ariëns, independent art historian, The
Hague: ‘Alchemical, Kabbalist and Occult Symbolism in the Work of Pablo
Picasso and his contemporaries’.

16.10-16.40 dr. Giovanna Costantini, art historian, Dept. of
Communications and Visual Arts, Univ. of Michigan-Flint: ‘Wall & Pylon:
Freemasonry in the Art of Giorgio De Chirico’.

16.40-17.10 dr. Verena Kuni, art historian and media theorist,
Inst. for Media Studies Univ. Bazel: ‘Entered Apprentices, Master
Artists. Tracing Masonic Heritage in the work of Joseph Beuys and Matthew
Barney’.

17.10-17.30 Questions

17.30-17.40 Closing remarks

Friday 21-10-2005

09.15-10.00 Registration and coffee

Theme: Attitudes towards Western Esoteric Heritage. Public and Private
Policies:

10.00-10.10 Welcome and introduction

10.10-10.40 Erik Westengaard, curator Nationalhistoriske Museum,
Frederiksborg / Danske Frimurerordens Museum, Copenhagen: ‘Masonic
Symbolism in Gardens in Northern Germany and Denmark (1750-1810).
Salvaging Public and Private Gardens from Destruction of their Esoteric
Content’.

10.40-11.10 dr. Eugène Warmenbol, Egyptologist, Univ. Libre de
Bruxelles, ‘19th Century Masonic Temples in Egyptian Style in Brussels
and Antwerp. Shared Responsibilities for Heritage Organizations and
Masonic Orders’.

11.10-11.40 dr. Malcolm Davies, independent music historian, The
Hague: ‘Masonic Musical, Theatrical and Poetical Heritage of the
Netherlands. Unexplored Territories in Public and Private archives’.

11.40-12.00 Questions

12.00-13.30 Lunch break

13.30-14.00 drs. Andréa Kroon, art historian and PhD-student,
Univ.
Leiden: ‘The Material Culture of Freemasonry in the Netherlands in the
18th-20th Century. History, Destruction and Conservation’.

14.00-14.30 dr. Marty Bax, independent art historian, Amsterdam:
‘The Building of the Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij in Amsterdam by
K.P.C. de Bazel. The Conservation and Adaptation of Theosophical
Architecture to its Future Utilization by the Amsterdam City Archive’.
Theme: The Future of Western Esoteric Heritage. Interdisciplinary
Research and Conservation:

14.30-15.00 dr. Andreas Önnerfors, researcher Centre for European
Studies, Univ. Lund: ‘18th Century Membership Records of the Swedish
Order of Freemasonry. A Digital Database with 4300 names and Places as a
Source for Future Research’.

15.00.15.20 Questions

15.20-15.40 Tea Break

15.40-16.10 prof. dr. Andrew Prescott, director Centre for Research
into Freemasonry, Univ. Sheffield: ‘Freemasonry as a Part of National
Heritage. The Conservation of Esoteric and Fraternal Heritage in Great
Britain’.

16.10-16.20 prof. dr. Frans Grijzenhout, Chair for Cultural
Heritage, Conservation and Restoration, Univ. Amsterdam / Head of
Education, Inst. for Cultural Heritage: ‘The Future of Esoteric Heritage.
New Perspectives for Art and Heritage Policies’. Introduction to the
debate.

16.20-16.50 Questions, followed by a debate amongst speakers and
invited experts on ‘The

Future of Western Esoteric Heritage’.

16.50-17.00 Closing remarks and presentation of several new projects

For more information and a registration form, please contact:
infostichtingovn.nl.