University of Zurich, 6-7 December, 2012
Deadline: 30 April 2012

Artistic Commerce and Confrontation in the Early Modern Portuguese and Spanish Empires

Organizers:
David Young Kim
Jens Baumgarten
Tristan Weddigen

6-7 December 2012
Kunsthistorisches Institut
University of Zurich

Main Sponsor: Connecting Art Histories, The Getty Foundation

CALL FOR PAPERS
The University of Zurich (UZH) and the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) are pleased to announce the conference, “Artistic Commerce and Confrontation in the Early Modern Portuguese and Spanish Empires.”
This symposium aims to map out the most current and innovative research on the artistic commerce and confrontation that occurred in the global Portuguese and Spanish Empires, from the capture of Ceuta in 1415 to the arrival of the João VI’s court in Rio de Janeiro in 1808. We seek to examine how analysis of works of art, architecture and art literature pertinent to a colonial Iberian context might yield perspectives upon the interchange, admixtures or incompatibility of diverse ideas, materials, styles and subject matter in the early modern global world. How did the travels of materials, patrons, artists, architects and objects shape the self-conception of the Portuguese and Spanish world empires? How might we better understand the historiographic treatment and implications of this artistic commerce? How might such an investigation help us dislodge assumptions concerning the role of works of art in constituting notions of territory and the position of the mobile self and viewer in that territory?

We invite papers that consider the following themes:

• The rapport between the Portuguese colonial and mercantile empire and its Spanish, Ottoman, Mughal and African imperial counterparts;
• The reception of traveling artists, works of art, and materials in varying and contrasting landscapes, climates and natural environments;
• The historiography of global art history as it pertains to the Portuguese and Spanish world empires;
• The intersection between cultural mobility and notions of style, either personal, regional or period;
• The impact of migration of forms upon ideas and values concerning originals and copies;
• Latin America, with an emphasis upon Brazil, as a middle ground and depot for diverse artists, styles and materials, not only those pertaining to Iberian colonizers, but also those regarding African, Asian and other European persons and objects;
• The global-wide commerce and mobility of materials and artists in the early modern period;
• Efficacy of magic, religious cults and pilgrimages in diverse maritime contexts.

The deadline for submission of 30-minute presentation proposals is Monday, 30 April 2012. Abstracts should not exceed 250 words. Papers will be delivered in English.
Please send your abstract and CV to artisticcommerce14151808gmail.com

The organizers are pleased to recompense speakers for a portion of their travel and accommodation expenses depending upon funding.

This conference is one of the scholarly activities connected with the project New Art Histories, a joint venture between the University of Zurich and Federal University of São Paulo, part of the initiative Connecting Art Histories, sponsored by the Getty Foundation. Descriptions of the project can be found on the following websites:

http://www.unifesp.br/humanas/projetos/barrocoglobal/
http://www.khist.uzh.ch/neuzeit/res/nah.html

For further information, please contact Dr. David Young Kim at david.taeyoung.kimgmail.com