Aby Warburg: An Intellectual Biography

451 Pages·026.63 MB·English

by  E. H. Gombrich

AbyW 'arbu1r9g2.5 .
E.H .G OMBRICH
ABY WARBURG
AN INTELLECTUABLI OGRAPHY
WITH A MEMOIR ON THE HISTORYO F THE LIBRARY
BY F.S AXL
LONDON
THE WARBURG INSTITUTE
UNIVERSITYO F LONDON
1970
@ B.H .GO MBRICH1,9 70
PRINTEIND THEN ETHERLANDS
BYE .J .B RIL-LL EIDEN
CONTENTS
l.I NTRODUCTION 1
II. PRELUD E( 1866-1886) 19
illF.I RSTTE ACHEARNSD S TUDI(E1S8 86-1888)
The PsycohfCo ullotgu.y r. e . . . . 25
ArchaeaonlAdor gtH yi sto. r. y . . . 37
MunicFhl, oraennDdce ep arture from Bo3n8 n
IV.T HED ISSERTAOTNIB OONT TICE(L1L8I8 8-1891) 43
V.B EYONADR TH ISTO(R1Y8 91-1897)
PhilosopRheiacdalia nngtdhs Ae e stheFtriacg ments 67
TheS tuodfPy a geantry 85
,·
ThAem eriJoc uamne y. . . . . . . .8 8. . .
ContempAorrt. a .r y. . . . . . . 9.2 . . .
VI.R ETURTNO F LORENTRIENSEE ARC(H1E8S9 7-1904)
RenaisAsratLn:ec oen ar.d o . 96
.
Fragmoentn htNe y mph. a .. . 105
VII.R EsuL.ATNSD R ETRE(A1T9 oo-r9o4) 128
VIII. THE CoNF LICT OFS TYLES ASA PsYCHOLOGPIRCoABLL EM
(1904-1907) 147
• • • • • • • • • • •
GothRieca laisasn mI mpediment 148
ModemP aral.l .e ls 151
GothaisacC atal.y s.t . 159
GothiacnA lalsy. . . . 162
Harmonizing Opposites 168
.
ClasPsaitchaaolnsi d t Dsa ngers 177
IX. THES TAR(S1 908-1914)
Godasn Dde mon. s. . . 186
BetweMeang iacn Ldo g.i c 195
vi CONTENTS
X.T HEH AUNTERDE FORMATI(O1N9 14-1918) 206
XI.R ECOVEANDR Y SYNTSHIE(S1 918-1923)
TheL ectuorneS erpeRintualt . 216
XII. RETuRN TO WoRK( 192.4-1.9 .2 6) 228
TheL ectuornRe e mbran.d t . 229
XlllT.H ET HEOROYF S OCIAL MEMORY 239
XIV.T HEL IFOEF S YMBOL(S1 926-•2 9) 260
XV.T HEL ASPTR OJECMTN:E MOSYNE 283
XVI.W ARBRUGs'A cHIEVEMm ENPTE RSPECTIVE. 307
XVIIT. HEH ISTOORFYW ARBURGL'IsB RAR1Y8,8 6-19B4yF4 r.i tz
Saxl . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 2.5 . . . . . . . . .
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.W arburg's PuWbolrkiss. hed 339
2.U npubliSsohuerdc e.s 343
.
3.W ritianbgosu Wta rburg 348
INDEX . 353
• • . • • • •
LISTO FI LLUSTRATIONS 368
PLATES 1-65
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etliri,,n,i ss,,'c,r.rir l9-l I l,r' rlrt \\ rirlrtrrgl rtsritLtci '.l rricllr ccn cxhrrrrstcc,l\.
sclcctire irilrlroqrl|irv ot rt'cr:ntl roolisr rntlr rticlcs on \\'lrblrrg tirllorr'st his
I)rcilrct'rtttttci stiirrslrrtirr'!lr'(iilnt t(r(\t ulriclrthcrtorli'.tn.1;r crsor-ra]iotir
this qrclrts <-ltollr(r ( )1rti1ll.troc r ir-()r,l:.if(t r'.t lri.irrlrrgr tlrc trrenvv isitorss 'ho u isl-t
to crlntjoc tlrt:l riqtrLLrttr'srr < 'lrit' .s still l-urtlrre t lriss trcell of pLrlrlicetioins
Lrrrlrkr:itt6 l>r'r,'r1LfkJ srr on.
.\rlrrritt,,rllrt irt'orrlrrni,,111i.orfr this lrooli. of tvlrich the qcrrcsisi s
clest--ril,i.r.rrt il rr"l r,trotl,-rcti,rrnr.r :r\l r,rrcc rrrrtrilrutctcol tht-'rrlisrlgo f hol-lcs
)
s'hiclra r.cu nlilicii ro lr trrlirllrrl.'l'hr'lcrrgtirlir* t ot-'t'npLrblisl'rcscolr -u'ccs'
\
l ()l) [)lr- l-+.1 (';r')lr{}Pt ',.si1ri\L ()r]\r 't t}rc'r '\tL'tttt o u'hiclr thcsc ntasscso f
drlfrs, rrotesr rntll ()1tit!l\ turlr ()n tlrr-s rrr"rrt'irlctrhrrsr tt re cloclrtncrttcdir -it l-ris
bri,,l..N o tloui,l rt is ilr llrr.n: ;rtrrrcr rt-irrrgnrcnttslr :rtt het prcscr)ti r qrc:rtcr
cl.rrrlrl.er qct lrrrnt ini slrc,l u orlis, lrr-rtt he trtst:inltir,r t cxcrrcrl br \\ arburg's
lcqacr nnv als()l rt.s ccnl s ll slnrlrtonr of l cc'rtlit-rr' lissltistrrcti(i)unn ()ngt hcl
rising qerrer:rtirront -rut lristorirrrrrsv itlrt lrc tlirectir)n( )Llrs trLdichs uve bcctr
trli ing.
Tlrc lr:tsicc li HicLltrr rtt;rrt lcrirt tl'onrt hc fltctt ir;rlt hc stLrilro f thc historv
of rrrt is irresclprrlrlrli rriit'tit r) 1rs \ st('ll oi vellrcs., \rchucologv can pr()ht
irr,nrt hc colllpj]'tt;,rlrtu rtlc otrrl'rrrtct-jzlrtirrrr,t'cc'tr\tp;L't\i trt, itlnrls,b c thcv
err,ru'hcrrtlsl,i lrLirr rt'or tiqurirrts. \ iist of :tlrrr lrrttntingsu hiclr mrlkcs 1r()
rlistir-rcttonlr ef u r'cn tirr Sistrrrt \lrtrlonn:t ritrclr r tnoclcst cirtr\.ls trot-t-lti
provir-rcilr<i :irLrrcsirc lLrt',-ii\' rti t,rrgst ,r thc lrisrorv of ;trt. ltou-cvcr Lrsctirilt
nrav lre tirr-rrrtrol lre irr ()tlicr r( sl)ects.N citlrcr s()ci()l()g1\'1 ()pr slch()logv arc
rlrlc hc'rct () c()n)(t' o f hr' l'c:r('u,L> ft irr':irl lrisf{ rt'iruut ho llts lr>sth is bcnrings
in :rn iner t r-nlsso t'rllrtrr.
It is her c, nllll)('. thrrtt hc iiqrrreo lt\\'rrrburqh ash clcl( )ut rhcrp romise of a
rcrlcclt' lrt'clusc lrr', it .rrrrr ,rr(, \\.r\ c' rlr',in ccclt hror-rqlror-hrifs litc thrrr tlrc
historV( )tr irt nl1rltcrcrrl, rrrql till r)r,rtt(rs,1r(,)t1sl rnt ccr-rnrulatio<nl itlrctsl) r.lltr s
PREIIAC]E TO TtsIF,S ECO\I) FI)ITION
a record of 1-rurmasnu ffcrings ancl triurnphs. 1.\r.rtth at \X.arburg \\rasa lonc in Ilven-imag
this conviction. Rcadcrs oi this book rru'ills oon rcalizc hriu' manv birsic a bearing c
assLlmptionsh e shareclu 'rth his c()ntclrrp()raricsr vlro rvcrc, likc hirrr, rt>otcd inter action
in nincteenth-ccnturl'culturc. l-ikc thcm hc u'asc onvincccl that thc art of thc battleg roun
Italian Rcnaissancc,t hc art oi Lconarclo, llichclansclr> anrl Raphacl, \\'ast hc thc nctu'r>rI
r.isible c\prcssion of a supremc rroment of hurnan civilization bordercd sun-ru p his
on thc onc side bv the barbarisrn of the bigoted Nliddlc r\ges and on the \\tarburg
othcr br thc dcplorablc cxccsscso f Baroclr.rcrh ctoric. It s'irsb ccirusch e firllv those u'ho t
acccptcd this valuation of u,'haru 'c call thc'High'Rcnaissancc that hc respect he r
cleciclcctlo fircus iris rescarcircs( )n thc hrst stirrings of this grcat a\\'akcning artistic l-rcri
'clctails',
in the art ancl societv oi llccliccarr Florcncc. Thosc in u-hich, as hc. mav sound
saicl,h c founcl that'(locl u'as clu'clling', r'u'crcth c sliqht cl'rangcsi n c,stur.r'rc differcnt: u
or small modificati<ins in astrological inragcs s-hich \\'crc t() hir-n thc acaclcmic 6l
harbingcrs of that supremc achievcmcnt,ithc hurlen spirrt. lt u'asa lso in these tow€
thc course oi this scarch that hc irrcrcasingll cilr.irLtro takc issuc u'itl-r eccentricitv
historians oistvlc q'ho trlkccl in tcrms oian aufor.t()m()Lclslo lution oifirrr-r.rs. inspired the
For him the bcaun ancl sercnitv r>ft hc Rcnaissanccr cprcscntccla hercl-u,on of this cen
triumph river psvchologicalo bstrrcLcsN.o t clcn thc rcvival oi,\nticluitl ris historians a
such could have rcsultcd in this victorr-, bccausc tl'rcc lassicalh critagc s'as u'ork of th<
zrlsos hot through u'ith tcnclcncicst hat thrcrrtcnccti his achicr.cnrcnt( , i p, risc. r,'aluet >f cu
It has oftcn bccn saiclt hat \\'arbure clerivcclt his vision oia'Dionvsiac'
antiquitv trorn Itriedrich Nictzschc, l>Lrtth crc is a vitrrl clif]crcncch crc u'hich
I har-eo nlv con-ict <ls cc titcr tl-rcc omplction of this book. Thc nrain thcmc of
Nietzschc's Birt/t o./"1-ra,qerr/-c1s ts on thc contrast l"rc u-ishccl to cstablish
betu'een thc visual arts ()n thc or.tcs idc antl music ancl ciramrr( )n thcr( )thcr.
Thc visual arts sti rr-ietzschct alrqht- reflcctcclt hc .\pollonian siclco i rhc
(lrcck soul; in ()tl-rcr\ \'()r(ls hc sau' thcm ir.rt crms oi \\'inckclrnann ancl,
abor-ea ll, of Lessing, s'ho u-asi trclincclt o clenvt o sculpturc rhc ebilitr to
cxprcss the cxtfemcs oipassion such'.rs\ \'c cnc()Ltlrtcrt n ancicnt P()ctr\'2rnc1
drama. \\'arlrurg nclcr acccptcrl this c'lichotor-r-rr(' ).n thc c()ntmr\', his
intercst u,as cntirclv c()ncentratcclo n thc Dionrsiac clcrlerrts in Clracco-
Rornan sarcophagi ancl victorv lri()numcnts. It u,as thcsc clcr-rrcntsu 'hrch
carrieclt he pcrilous charqc oi'pathos'that <lnlvs tr()nqc hrrlcters ri'crce lrlc
to hancllc rvith<iut succun.rbingt t> its pslchr>logical clanscrs
No attemprti s r.naclein tlris book ro qloss r.,r'crt hc irighlr personl) aspccts
of \\'arbr"rrg'sr eaclir.rogf thc past.'I'() him thc crc,rti()11osf ertistsa ncla rtisans
coulcl nc\.er Lrecornci ncrt clata.H is vcrv invtilvcnrcnt uith thcsc u-orks
transccncleclt l"rc tracliti<lnal clistinction bctu'ccn stvlc lncl iconograph\'.
PREFA(lIl I'O TIIII SE(lONl) F.t)I IION
Er-err-i magc bccamc t() him thc cn-rboclimclr(t) ic()r-rflictingfo rccs u'hich hacl
a bearing on man's strr-rgUlcf or salr.ati<)n.I t \\',ls t() maP thc clash and
interactign oi thcsc firrccs that he likccl to tabr-rlatct hcir p<lsitron on the
battlcgrouncl oihiston-in innun-rcrablcn otcs, crvcntuallvh oping to illustratc
thc netg-ork of the spiritual conflicts in thzrt'atl'.ts'<ipfh otographs that \vast o
sum up his vision of historr'.
\\'arburg's approach \\,as clcafl)' fhr too icliosvncratic to bc acloptecl Lrr.
thosc vu.hoc amc afier l-rir:l.Hl. c hacl no mcth()1l, br,rtl -rch acl a mcssagc. ln this
respcct hc rcscmbleclJ ohn Ruskin, another prophet u'ho rcsPonclcctlo our
'l-hc
arristic hcritagc u,irl-rs imilar inter-rsitl'. juxtaposition of thcsc two namcs
mar- souncl startling at flrst, bccausc n() t\\'() stllclcntso f art coulcl bc more
cliffercnt: u,hcrc Ruskin prcachecl to thc nation, \\'arlrurg acldrcssccl an
acaclemic6 litc, u,hcre Ruskin u'as prolix \\'arburg rvas tiracular. \'ct both
thcsc t()\vcfi ng personalitics, trrho coulcl be biasccl to thc point rif
ecccntrici6-, lcft their imprint on the outlook of thc next gencrati<ln.R uskin
insnirecl the arts ancl crafis m()\,cment that transfbrmecl the visual a\varcness
of thts ccntuf\'. W'arburg's example gavc clircction to thc u'ork ilf art
historians as clir.ersca s litu.-in Panofskt' ancl Iicnneth Clark, ancl the varicd
g.ork of thc Institutc that bcars his namc has amplv justiEed his faith rn the
value of cultural historr'.
ll. H. G.
Lonclon, Fcbruarr, 19 B(t
ADI)I'f I ON,.\I- I]tI]I-I(X }R r\PH\'
In 19Sl this biogr;rphr'a?lltt( ()Ilt in rr ('crnlrrt tr.lnslltion tith l nru prctrrct br tltc:ruthor: .lll
ll'lrbrr.q: l:i* in/t//tk/ru//, 1lio14r,tp/,it,l.Lrropriischr !rri:rgs:rnslrlr. I'nLnklirrr.Lrl ll.rin. 1()fi1, rLprl rt
t:rs i,lio*'ttl in 19f14b r r plpcr)rack rcrsion, llso publishcrl in l rrnklrrrt, bl Suhrkrnrp. .\n ltrlian
transixti()n eppcerccl in 1983: 1b1,l l-,trlttry; l'nt I'i4.r,1p,i1t r/r//,tttr,t/,.( .rmfr ,lci srpcrc, [,citrin..lii,
\lilrtn. 19li.l.c ()nl,rirtint:.rtcrr lctrrlcrll rilrli,rgrrrplrr.\ J,rl,rnt'.rr rrlnsl.lli()ris'r i n prtl>.Lr.rrrrrn.
.\tr rntrn-t1n5toi.L, ts rtrit's (br l;dq:rr \\ intl; ses pLrhlislricln tl\t"/ iil/t; /,itrr,r11 \'trpf,/rtttrrt.25- JLrnc
l()r1. f p. rrn.l sl: suhscclr:rrrtlr rtPrintril in t . \\ m,l, / 1,, I t,,,11111,, ,, ,1 \'lttitol;; .\tLiltti ill
J/tntrti.;/ lr'l. ccl..l. .\ntlcrsorr. ()xlortl. 1()ft3,p p. lo6 l.l.'fhis tolunrc \\.rrsr (,\.lr\\.c(lb r.(.herics
llopc in i.otdtt /l,tjot r'/ lJr,r'kr. r,,1. (,. rtr,. 5. 15 \lrrrch -l \prrl l()8J, rr-t,l rrr rhr (n\Ll{r!
crirrcsll,rnclctlcc.li(llcrtotltt'autltort'r'r,nrl..\\'iniri( glrrrlrrrg[]ilriiogrrPhri t(ntlt()./,.1\' rrspLrlrlishcil
in the srnrc journei. r'ol.6. no. (r,5 lli.\pril l9lt.l.( )tlttr rivitus inciLrclcI:l .rns Litbes<.hLrtz..\br
\\rrl'trrsiis()(, i9l9) :tsinrcrpr.tcroicirili:rrrion'.ittYt,ir lirok.\'l /r,1t ltlLtr,/1.i,,/ ltr,,,r/rtr,,1')-1, This
PP.22r J(r; liclir (iilhcrt.'l:ronr:ltl hislorr to tirt histori ol (-irilis:rrion:( i,rntlrrich'sb irrgrrrphro i'
\l.r\\.rrl,rr:.\n1,,,,t.,., \1,,1.'/,/.' ,,t.rr,,.{J. 1'r'r.l'1. ixl 'rt r,l\.'l\rlrr'1.(, .11....,..t,,.., feadef 1
/'1//'till .(t krrrli/lrli./ r/tli,i, (-rrntlrritlgc. Il:lss., llncl LoncLrn. l9r-, pp..12.i 3()); Srot h,rrling, tt L//l.t/l)i.t/0ri.t/.. derable
rrr,.J l. 1r)-1,p p 12- t); fl rs11rhl, lcclitrr'rtj n.'\lrr \\:rr)rrrrg,risl :rrnst Lur,ll :rrlrLrrhi:r,rr publicat
tlcr', (,i/ /irt.1i.;rlr (,, lt/tr'/ L 1r t;t.r'4ttr,n o. 2.16, I ()E..1.
.\ c,)nrplctc bihliogrephr oi- rrll r,rrlis br .rntl ,rn \\'rrhLrrg uP t() [()iJ0i . r,r lrr. irrrrrrl in I)icrcr disciple
\\utt].c.1l,l||.-lr|,lrl'',|,|l'r.gl,i/t/tt the san
Kotrtlcr,2ntl ctlition, llrttlcrt Ilrtrlcrr.I t)8{).l rr rtlrljti,,n. ntr lcclrrrt rin \\ rtrlrrrrgf stc l3rlrlio!ir.rphri trrl
'lr.rrliriol:'l consPe(
no.(r'lrhrtslrccrrptrlrlishtiiln l-n.llishiurrl.rllrr'rirlr'"l he \nrbir,rl,ntt,,irhc(-lrLssic,rl Ic
(.uitrrrrl Psrchoiogvot'.\bi\\ltrl)Lrrg'.rnl:.11.(i.. lriltttt.r.l)h:riilrin,()rlorci,:rnr(lo rnt,il lnirtr.itr which z
Prc'lshsc, Ithrrc:r,\ .\'.. 19E.+ off and
ttrilrruirrg c()nlrltcrl)()rltti\ct olrnrcs hrvt'rrPPcrrcil: Srcplnn l;Lisscif r d), Iltr,ttt.r1rt,,()rttitt
rcrirtq.( ii)ttingcn. /rLt ttisccllrtnot 1'obiturtrics:rn(tlr ilrutcs.i nclrrrlinqr (.ntinis((.ncclsrr irirrrrsl lcrgcrl. libraty.
19 '-():/ )/( 'llu:rhenrrt/tle lt: , 141r.sm, it llcitrigcn \'()11\ \ crrcr lloirrr:rnr, (ieorg S',e;rkcn uprl \llrrin but it is
\\rrnkc, l:urrrp:iischc\crlrrgsrurstlit.l:lrnkt-rrrt.rr\rlrrrL in.1 980:rrirscicicon\\rrlrurrl)t,,lrr/trn/l9r)
a firme:
fll(i. qrrtltlli() ,rprilc, lr)ll'1.. i)ntrining r'\a(rft\ ironr Srrrl'' ,rnil \\ .rrlrLLrgs s ritings .r:rtlc e6rri[rrr j11s
br (irirtrbrich (trtnslilt((l irorr llilrliogr,tplrr ircrn rro. (r51.. \grLrrbcn, [)rrl J.rg,r.( .rrrclrirr(,. rllbrcst,rLnj femains
\\ inrl. therefor
Ilcctrtt corrtrilrLrli()llr(s) \\ lrlrrrrg stutlicsi nclrrtlc:l :Lrrt \\'. l:()rsTIr.'\ l,r \\,rrlrrrrg'sI rist()r\( )l.rrt:
ctrilcctrr-cn t(rtt()r\ rrril rhc socirl nrcr.lirLtio'nr t irnlgcs'. ln 1),tulu/t,.in.( ). 105. l()-(i, pl,. 16() -6; Dit rcr which i
(\/\-l r)Lrsrnltagtlrticei,,s ts.tolir ii;:l(t icln-rlll'r.l t,tl\r r i,ltircllrLtfn nhrliiir\ tc1.rl)l:trititlr,ron lrtlo s)n rur t-'. :; (c ).1c\uctrol, l,r,1ltlrtlt rltt.ttgt)nr* trlllr .n (lLnilil ,yIt..trirltnrrlg !t,cttnl rp,rL 1nr1b(,9) li-Sc- t2l \c,lcpircpLl.rrl r,icr8 c. qll i-)\,(L,rrc.:rl( rrilo1r .c7r lr/rrut l()\ l1Vrcjrtllrrr,rrLr/r. 63W, ah feur
.\lnlnlitt.grtppt/ i kot.t/tt/tn.;ktfrti ihLrnul. \'ittrrlrcts ilistoric oclr .\nfiiiritcts \lirLrlcmicn, \nrilir:rr sof, Frir
r\li:r:(ricrl -j(1).S trrclih,rinr.l (l--. (,crnrrn trrn*ltrirrn;t: lltt \)ul,,,litt,yr1iji l,lLt lrrilr/i/: trttti in1932
Ktrtt.t/ttt. ;.sttt.rtlt,r/,Ir),r rnrorrt I'rrsclrcnburlrcr'. Kiiln, l()83. pp. -6 8l: Silr irr l,crrctri, // tltnnttt ritii,r
works,
i(u/,tj(|.\letit,tti'(,lLslrlc\Irlrlicrrrttt'l()|3.1;SltlrlttlrrtSt'tti'|cr].l.|/tit,[jllt/t'.,ttt/itt,
lllibiirrrccr<lrS torirclcll',\rrc.\Lrovrlstrit.(iiLrliol.inrrucli l:rlit,rr...'11r i11, 1()E.{,p[..J.15J. l:Ilrr.c9 include,
Bcrt<vti, I'a /lrautitt r/t,qlit t.trrt, NorrL (-.Lsrr,1 3.krgnr. 1985: ()nrrrr (-ulllrrcsc, l,,r i,tt,l,int ltiltr pittrra madei r
ilJiirii,rtr.cr tli cLrltLrrrnr t,,rlcrnrtl)i-). l_;itcr.zrlR. onrr lJrrri l()8.-; \llrril.lesirrqlrrrrs.rr LrrLr.rt.r,/ )l
.\ trt/tt lttL the con
\ i,shihikrr \l.tikurrr.r, I),r llr.<r','lr ht krrl/rr lt,i l{',nl'trrl, \i r;.i,/,r ttti.l li/tt, ll,,1;,1', 1lriin lrui Warbur
.\tllcttrcunr, hiirtiustcrn fs, 19115:I Jt'rnllrrtl Ilrrsclrcnriorl.'\\:rr t.in sclrr rirclrrigc: {c,-:Ln\(1rlr\
of resea
I:iirclcrtl.:Iltlq.rr\\rrltitrrltl\i>r\\lLr1ltrrg(/tl,,t',f,tl,ti'ltll,
l()9), incluclin{ illustrrrtions oi thrcc plrrtts ironr .llttnt:1rtt, en,l -f. 13.' l repp, ',\lrr \\ rrllrurg, Iris of ofa
Lilrrrtrr rtnclr he \\ rrrburg Institrrtc', / l,,ort/it,Jtt( ,L.,,lttultrti;l.. l,)86. Having