Albrecht Classen, University Distinguished Professor of German Studies, University of Arizona
Monday, September 12, 2022,
2:30-3:30 pm,
ASA Koffler Great Room
Although southern Arizona is truly far away from medieval Europe in geographic terms, the Middle Ages are very much present in Tucson through visual arts, manuscripts, and other precious objects. Prof Classen’s talk will examine the famous collection in the UA Art Museum’s Retablo Room, donated by Samuel H. Kress in1954. Commissioned by the Cathedral of Ciudad Rodrigo, province of Salamanca, Spain (1480-1488) and executed in the Hispano-Flemish style, the 26 panels of the retablo (altarpiece) make it one of the most important works produced in 15th-century Spain. Prof Classen will introduce other locations holding medieval art and medieval manuscripts and facsimiles held in Special Collections of the University Library. (Albrecht Classen’s video of The Retablo Room is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ewxt_2e9V4).
Albrecht Classen teaches and researches German and European literature and culture from 800 to 1650 CE. He has spoken a number of times at ASA, often relating medieval thought and art to current cultural issues. He has published well over 100 scholarly books and at least nine volumes of his own poetry and is the editor of the journals Mediaevistik and Humanities Open Access. Among his awards are the prestigious Order of Merit from the German government (2004), the UA Henry Koffler Research Award (2008), the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Professor of the Year (Arizona) Award (2012), and UA’s Excellence in Academic Advising Award (2015). In 2017, Prof Classen was knighted by the German government as Grand Knight Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Three Lions to honor outstanding acts of service or expertise in areas that are of benefit to humanity.
Compiled by Maria Dobozy, ASA Volunteer