This study stems from the correspondence between Fritz Saxl and Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti held at the Warburg Institute Archive (London) – hereby published. The few letters date back to Ragghianti’s attendance at the Institute during his sojourn in London in 1938-1939, where he was on a political mission as an opponent to the Fascist Regime. Moreover, at the Warburg Institute he was in close contact with Jenö Lányi – whom he had first met in Italy – an Hungarian art historian who prematurely died a few years later and who has been thus overlooked by following critical studies. In order to broaden the research scope to possible critical and methodological insights in Saxl-Ragghianti relationship, one must turn to Ragghianti’s writings on the Austrian scholar. At first, Ragghianti had traced a praising account of Saxl’s work and critical approach in several articles throughout the 1950’s. Then, his opinion veered sharply along with his strong criticism of iconology, especially in the 1970’s. Therefore, their initial common ground – i.e. Saxl’s attention for formal analysis together with iconographical examination – was no longer taken into consideration by the Italian’s critical assessment. Due to the two scholars’ stature, this article does not provide their full biographical record whilst it rather focuses on Saxl’s activity at the Warburg Institute in those years and the possible affinities with Ragghianti’s research and method.
Uno scambio epistolare tra Carlo L. Ragghianti e Fritz Saxl con una nota critica
COOKE, JENNIFER
2010-01-01
Abstract
This study stems from the correspondence between Fritz Saxl and Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti held at the Warburg Institute Archive (London) – hereby published. The few letters date back to Ragghianti’s attendance at the Institute during his sojourn in London in 1938-1939, where he was on a political mission as an opponent to the Fascist Regime. Moreover, at the Warburg Institute he was in close contact with Jenö Lányi – whom he had first met in Italy – an Hungarian art historian who prematurely died a few years later and who has been thus overlooked by following critical studies. In order to broaden the research scope to possible critical and methodological insights in Saxl-Ragghianti relationship, one must turn to Ragghianti’s writings on the Austrian scholar. At first, Ragghianti had traced a praising account of Saxl’s work and critical approach in several articles throughout the 1950’s. Then, his opinion veered sharply along with his strong criticism of iconology, especially in the 1970’s. Therefore, their initial common ground – i.e. Saxl’s attention for formal analysis together with iconographical examination – was no longer taken into consideration by the Italian’s critical assessment. Due to the two scholars’ stature, this article does not provide their full biographical record whilst it rather focuses on Saxl’s activity at the Warburg Institute in those years and the possible affinities with Ragghianti’s research and method.
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