The Society for Emblem Studies welcomes submissions for papers and sessions on any aspect of early modern emblems and iconology for the 13th International Triennial Conference of the Society for Emblem Studies will be held at the University of Vienna from July 28th to August 2nd 2025.
The members of the local organizing team all work at the Institute of Classical Philology, Medieval, and Neo-Latin Studies at the University of Vienna. Submissions may treat any aspect of printed books, manuscripts, fine art, applied art, or modern manifestations of word-image interplay. Papers should be 20 minutes long, and we look forward to hosting a dynamic and varied programme of papers. Please submit proposals for both papers and sessions by the
31st December 2024.
Not to be missed!
Beyond the sessions, the conference includes an evening visit to the Imperial crypt of the Capuchins, a concert of musical emblems in the Old Town Hall beneath its emblematic ceiling, and, on Thursday, a session on medals in the Kunsthistorische Museum with free entrance to the Coins and Medals Cabinet and the Kunstkammer.
The Manuscripts and Old Books Department of the Austrian National Library will offer a hands-on-session with unique emblematic manuscripts eulogizing members of the Habsburg dynasty. Besides the traditional Wednesday excursion (to Dürnkrut Castle Chapel and its marvellous emblematic programme), optional sightseeing walks will be organized for small groups to discover emblematic sites in the centre of Vienna. For participants still in Vienna on Saturday, we plan to visit the rooms of Emperor Charles VI and his wife in the Augustinian monastery of Klosterneuburg, which was designed as an Austrian Escorial; the monastery is easily accessible by public transport.
As the paintings in Dürnkrut reproduce emblems by Herman Hugo (and Francesco Pona), we will have a special focus on Pia desideria, with a plenary, two sessions, and an exhibition of various editions generously offered by a private collector; we also invite papers concerning the reception of Pia desideria outside the book. Given Vienna’s geopolitical position as a gateway between west and east, we are particularly happy to receive proposals for papers dealing with examples of emblematic practice in Eastern European territories.
The conference will be conducted in the major scholarly languages, and submissions are welcome in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian.
Please submit proposals for both papers and sessions by the 31st December 2024. The organizing committee will respond to all proposals early in the new year.
For further details see the conference website: https://emblemstudies2025.univie.ac.at/
We look forward to welcoming you in Vienna!
Doris Vickers, Elisabeth Klecker, Lavinia Enache, Sonja Reisner