Introduction

The Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi was founded in 1952. In the year before the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of this international undertaking – whose aims currently encompass the study of stained-glass heritage of all epochs, and which operates under the name of the international Corpus Vitrearum – we would like to reflect on its past and present, thus forming a basis for the development of future projects.

The International Colloquium and Forum of the Corpus Vitrearum, to be held in Krakow in 2026, will consider the history of stained-glass research and the path that had led up to the establishment of the international Corpus Vitrearum, as well as the various aspects of the organisation’s past. It will offer an opportunity to look back on people who set up the national committees of the Corpus Vitrearum and their contributions to the study of stained glass, both internationally, and nationally or locally.

From the very beginning of its existence, the Corpus Vitrearum has provided exceptional opportunities for conducting research within a broad network of specialists, and it is also this aspect that we should like to consider, against the background of the changing political, social and technical conditions of pursuing scholarly research in Europe and America across this long time span.

From its very origins, too, the Corpus Vitrearum has been at the forefront of interdisciplinary research, bringing together art historians, conservators, and archivists. It is therefore worthwhile to explore the consequences of such a modus operandi – both in the past and today. All of the above leads to questions about research methods. We would like to examine these more theoretical problems by asking about the historical development of stained-glass research methods, about new methods and new research attitudes, as well as about the importance of traditional approaches to analysing stained glass in the contemporary study of art history.

Themes

During the upcoming conference, we would like to reflect on the problem of the reception of results of stained-glass research, and the role played in this regard by the published volumes of the Corpus Vitrearum catalogue series, and on the position of stained glass in the art-historical ‘canon’ of particular epochs. 

For the Colloquium, the proposed themes include: 

1. The history of research on stained glass: research centres, scholars, and publications 
2. The history of the Corpus Vitrearum: main figures, activities, and achievements
3. Methods of stained-glass research:

a. changing methods of stained-glass research from a historical perspective 

b. the interdisciplinary approach in stained-glass research (art history, conservation, liturgical studies, visual studies, and mediality) 

c. new methodological perspectives in stained-glass studies

d. re-interpretations: the place of traditional methods in the contemporary practice of stained-glass research

e. the place of stained glass in the research on art of particular epochs. 

For the Forum, the themes are: 

1. Historical Techniques in Stained Glass Restoration: 

o Case studies addressing the challenges of past restoration practices and their impact on stained glass preservation.

o Analytical studies of historical materials used in stained glass and their application in modern conservation practices.

2. Methodological Approaches to Stained Glass Research:

o The evolution of research methodologies and techniques in the field of stained glass conservation.

o Historical accounts of technological advancements and breakthroughs that have shaped the discipline of stained glass conservation.

3. Prominent Figures and Studios in Stained Glass Conservation:

o Exploration of the contributions of leading conservators and renowned studios to the field of stained glass restoration and preservation.

4. The Evolution of Conservation Ideology and Philosophical Approaches:

o Examination of historical shifts in the philosophy of stained glass conservation and restoration across different periods.
o Ideological discussions surrounding the preservation of past treatments as integral to the history of the artwork versus the need for renewal.
o Reflection on how changing cultural, social, and technological contexts have influenced conservation philosophies and practices. 

Scientific Committee

Prof. Tim Ayers, Centre of Medieval Studies, University of York, Great Britain

Antoni Vila i Delclòs, Catalonia

Dr. Daniel Parello, Corpus Vitrearum Deutschland, Forschungszentrum für mittelalterliche Glasmalerei, Germany

Dr. Habil. Dobrosława Horzela, Institute of Art History, Jagiellonian University, Poland

Dr. Claudine Loisel, Laboratoire de recherche des Monuments historiques, France

Dr. Sophie Wolf, Vitrocentre Romont, Switzerland

Prof. Sarah Brown, Centre for Medieval Studies University of York, Great Britain

Keith Barley, York, Great Britain

Sarah Jarron, Walkford, Great Britain

Aletta Rambaut, Gent-Wondelgem, Belgium

Dr. Ivo Rauch, Koblenz, Germany

Dr. Günther Buchinger, Austria

Madeleine Manderyck, Belgium

James Bugslag, Canada

Michel Hérold, France

Dr. Maria Piera Bassi, Italy

Prof. Wojciech Bałus, Poland

Pedro Redol, Portugal

Prof. Victor Nieto Alcaide, Castile

Aden Kumler, Switzerland

Elizabeth Carson Pastan, USA

Organizers

The conference is organised by Corpus Vitrearum Poland, which is the Polish Committee of the Corpus Vitrearum International.

The members of the Organising Committee are: 

Professor Dr Habil. Wojciech Bałus, Jagiellonian University, Kraków

Dr Edyta Bernady-Farias, Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, Kraków

Grzegorz Eliasiewicz, Jagiellonian University, Kraków

Dr Habil. Dobrosława Horzela, Jagiellonian University, Kraków

Dr Justyna Kamińska, Jagiellonian University, Kraków

Dr Marta Kamińska, Conservator-restorer of works of art, Kraków

Dr Tomasz Szybisty, University of the National Education Commission, Kraków 

Dr Joanna Utzig, Jagiellonian University, Kraków

 

In case of any questions, please contact the Organising Committee: cvp@uj.edu.pl