Erwin Panofsky papers, 1904-1990, bulk, 1920-1968

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A Finding Aid to the Erwin Panofsky Papers, 1904-1990 (bulk dates 1920-1968), in the Archives of American Art, by Catherine S. Gaines

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Table of Contents:

• Biographical Information
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Biographical Information

Erwin Panofsky (1892-1968), a native of Hanover, Germany, grew up in Berlin where he received a classical education at the Joachimsthallsches Gymnasium. He then studied at the universities of Berlin, Munich and Freiburg/Breslau. After earning a Ph. D. in 1914 from the University of Freiburg, Panofsky spent three years on post-doctoral study in Berlin, and during this period, married fellow student and art historian Pandora Mosse.

Although primarily a scholar of Gothic and Renaissance art, Panofsky had wide interests. Erwin Panofsky was a highly respected and influential scholar who was a much loved, generous, and encouraging teacher of several generations of productive scholars. Many students became his life long friends, and quite a few of them considered Panofsky the greatest teacher they had ever encountered.

He taught at the University of Hamburg from 1920 to1933, and during this period began to develop iconographic approaches to interpreting art through analysis of its subject matter's symbols, themes, and history. His work in this area eventually had international influence in the development of art history as a discipline.

Beginning in 1931, Panofsky taught at New York University, spending alternate semesters at the University of Hamburg until the Nazis dismissed all Jewish officials. He and his wife fled Germany and came to the United States in 1933. During the academic year 1934/35, Panofsky held concurrent appointments at both New York University and Princeton University. He joined the faculty of the newly formed Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, in 1935, where he remained for the rest of his life. In addition, he continued to teach at New York University practically every year, and frequently served as a visiting professor at Princeton University.

He was a prolific writer, and his many books and articles represent some of the 20th century's most important writings in the field of art history, particularly in the realm of iconography. Among his books are: "Idea": Ein Beitrag zur Begriffsgeschichte der älteren Kunstheorie (1924) [translated later as Idea, The History of a Concept], Studies in Iconology (1939), Codex Huygens and Leonardo da Vinci's Art Theory (1940), The Life and Art of Albrecht Dürer (1943), Abbot Suger on the Abbey Church of St. Denis and Its Art Treasures (1946), Gothic Architecture and Scholasticism (1951), Early Netherlandish Painting: Its Origins and Character (1953), Meaning and the Visual Arts (1950), Renaissance and Renaissances in Western Art (1960), The Iconography of Correggio's Camera di San Paolo (1961), and Problems in Titian, Mostly Iconographic (1964).

Panofsky wrote on subjects other than art history. He was an authority on Mozart, and also wrote about the history of the detective novel and cinema. His 1934 article "On Movies" (originally published in Princeton University's Bulletin of the Department of Art and Archaeology), remains a highly regarded work on the subject.

The recipient of numerous honorary degrees, Panofsky most prized the first from the University of Utrecht, 1936, as it brought great satisfaction at a time when he was still coping with the trauma of expatriation. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the British Academy, and several other foreigh academies. In 1962, Panofsky received the Haskins Medal awarded by The Medieval Academy of America for a distinguished book in medieval history.

His wife Pandora Mosse Panofsky died in 1965; in 1966, he married Gerda Soergel, also an art historian. Erwin Panofsky died in Princeton, New Jersey, March 14, 1968.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

The papers of Erwin Panofsky measure 19.3 linear feet and are dated 1904-1990 (bulk dates 1920-1968). They consist of correspondence, writings, biographical material, and printed material documenting Panofsky's career as an art historian, teacher, and writer.

The Panofsky papers are comprised mainly of correspondence with colleagues, scholars, students, art dealers, galleries and museums, libraries, colleges and universities, organizations, and periodicals. Among the correspondents are colleagues, scholars, students, art dealers, galleries and museums, libraries, colleges and universities, organizations, and periodicals. Correspondents include: Udo von Alvensleben, Walter William Spencer Cook, Paul Coremans, Walter Friedländer, William S. Keckscher, Ludwig H. Heydenreich, H. W. Janson, Adolf Katzenellenbogen, Richard Krauatheimer, Edward E. Lowinsky, Millard Meiss, Gert van Osten, Richard Salomon, Craig Smyth, W.Stechos, Boot and Betty Tarkington, Egon Verheyen, and Wilhelm Vöge.

Writings by Panofsky include drafts, notes, and manuscripts of articles, book reviews, books, and lectures. Biographical material consists of awards and certificates, diplomas (including many honorary degrees), and membership certificates. Among the printed material are articles and clippings about or mentioning Panofsky, programs for graduation ceremonies at which Panofsky was awarded honorary degrees, reviews of Panofsky's books, obituaries, and memorial programs and tributes.

Arrangement and Series Description

The collection is arranged as 4 series:

• Series 1: Correspondence, 1921-1978, undated (Boxes 1-16; 16 linear ft.; Reels 2108- 2128)
• Series 2: Writings, 1915-1968, undated (Boxes 17-19; 2.3 linear ft.)
• Series 3: Biographical Information, 1905-1967 (Boxes 19-21; 0.5 linear ft.)
• Series 4: Printed Material, 1904-1990, undated (Box 19; 0.5 linear ft.)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

The Erwin Panofsky papers were donated by his widow, Dr. Gerda Soergel Panofsky, in 1979 and 1990.

Separated and Related Materials

Among the Archives' holdings is a collection of letters from Erwin Panofsky to art historians Wolfgang Stechow (1930-1931) and Lili Fröhlich-Bum (1931), and to Brooklyn Museum art librarian William B. Walker (1960) which is available on 35-mm microfilm reel 5136, frames 812-824. The letters to Stechow were written as he was preparing a review of Panofsky's book, Hercules am Scheidewege und andere antike Bildstoffe inder neueren Kunst, and provide additional information not found in the book itself. The letter to Mr. Walke is in Englishe, and the remainder are in German. The originals are still in the possession of Irving Lavin, who found them in Stechow's copy of Hercules am Scsheidewege given him by Mrs. Stechow.

How the Collection was Processed

Correspondence was processed by AAA staff prior to microfilming in 1981. The papers were rehoused and the unmicrofilmed portion was arranged in accordance with archival standards by Catherine S. Gaines in 2006.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The collection is open for research. Patrons must use microfilm copy. Use of the unmicrofilmed portion requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. research facility.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Erwin Panofsky papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Available Formats

Series 1: Correspondence, is available on 35-mm microfilm reels 2108-2128 at Archives of American Art and through interlibrary loan.

How to Cite this Collection

Erwin Panofsky papers, 1904-1990 (bulk dates 1920-1968). Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Correspondence, 1921-1978, undated (Boxes 1-16; 16 linear ft. Reels 2108-2128)

Erwin Panofsky's correspondence documents his research, writing, teaching, lecturing, and participation in professional organizations. It reflects his own academic interests and expertise ??? Medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance art, history, and iconography, and those of his many correspondents.

His most prolific correspondents include: Udo von Alvensleben, Walter William Spencer Cook, Paul Coremans, Walter Friedländer, William S. Keckscher, Ludwig H. Heydenreich, H. W. Janson, Adolf Katzenellenbogen, Richard Krauatheimer, Edward E. Lowinsky, Millard Meiss, Gert van Osten, Richard Salomon, Craig Smyth, W.Stechos, Boot and Betty Tarkington, Egon Verheyen, and Wilhelm Vöge.

1.8: Miscellaneous, arranged by subject, includes: requests for reviews, contributions to encyclopedias and dictionaries, and requests to write books; acknowledgements and thank you letters, 70th birthday congratulations; U.S. government, embassies and consulates. 1.9: Unfilmed Correspondence, received many years after microfilming was completed, is arranged chronologically and overlaps the dates and categories of correspondents represented in the preceeding subseries.

This series is arranged into 9 subseries. Subseries 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 are arranged alphabetically by geographical location. Subseries 1.9 is in chronological order. All remaining subseries are arranged alphabetically.

• 1.1: Colleagues, Scholars, Students and Other Individuals, 1921-1978, undated (Reels 2108-2124)
• 1.2: Art Dealers, 1932-1967 (Reels 2124-2125)
• 1.3: Galleries and Museums, 1925-1968 (Reel 2125)
• 1.4: Libraries, 1941-1967 (Reels 2125-2126)
• 1.5: Colleges, Universities, and Institutes, 1936-1968, undated (Reels 2126-2127)
• 1.6: Organizations, Societies, and Congresses, 1937-1967 (Reel 2127)
• 1.7: Periodicals, 1937-1967 (Reel 2127)
• 1.8: Miscellaneous, 1940-1969 (Reels 2127-2128)
• 1.9: Unfilmed Correspondence, 1925-1967, undated (unfilmed)

1.1: Colleagues, Scholars, Students and Other Individuals, 1921-1978, undated

1.2: Art Dealers, 1932-1967

1.3: Galleries and Museums, 1925-1968

1.4: Libraries, 1941-1967

1.5: Colleges, Universities, and Institutes, 1936-1968, and undated

1.6: Organizations, Societies, and Congresses, 1937-1967

1.7: Periodicals, 1937-1967

1.8: Miscellaneous, 1940-1969

1.9: Unfilmed Correspondence, 1925-1967, undated

Series 2: Writings, 1915-1968, undated (Boxes 17-19; 2.3 linear ft.)

Writings by Panofsky consist of drafts, notes, and manuscripts of articles, book reviews, books, and lectures. The early writings are in German.

This series is arranged by format.

Series 3: Biographical Information, 1905-1967 (Boxes 19-21; 0.5 linear ft.)

This series is arranged by record type.

Series 4: Printed Material, 1904-1990, undated (Box 19; 0.5 linear ft.)

This series is arranged by record type.