Rudolf Wittkower

Rudolf Wittkower , 1901-71, German-American art historian. After gaining his doctorate in Berlin, Wittkower became a research assistant and later research fellow at the Biblioteca Hertiziana, Rome (1923-33). He was (1934-56) on the staff of the Warburg Institute, London, and became professor at the Univ. of London from 1949 until 1956. Wittkower then headed the department of fine arts and archaeology at Columbia Univ. A man of indomitable energy, he transformed the department into one of the vital centers of scholarship in art history. His highly original works in English include Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism (1949), which was a major influence on modern English architects; The Drawings of the Carracci (1952); Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1955), a basic reevaluation; Art and Architecture in Italy, 1600-1750 (1958); Born under Saturn, the Character and Conduct of Artists (with Margot Wittkower, 1963); Essays in the History of Architecture (1967); Essays in the History of Art (1967); and Baroque Art: The Jesuit Contribution (with Irma Jaffe, 1972).

Wittkower, Rudolf (b Berlin, 22 June 1901; d New York, 11 Oct. 1971). Anglo-German art historian. He was born and brought up in Germany, but held British citizenship through his father, who had been born in England. After studying at the universities of Munich and Berlin, he worked at the Biblioteca Hertziana in Rome from 1923 to 1933. From 1934 to 1956 he was on the staff of the Warburg Institute in London and from 1949 to 1956 was also professor of history of art at University College London. In 1956 he moved to Columbia University, New York, as head of the Department of Fine Arts and Archaeology, which under his direction became one of the leading centres of art-historical scholarship in the USA. After he retired in 1969 he was Kress professor at the National Gallery in Washington and Slade professor at Cambridge. Wittkower's many books and articles were devoted mainly to Italian art and architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries, and his writings form one of the cornerstones in the study of the Italian Baroque. His major books, several of which have appeared in revised editions, include: Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism (1949), Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1955), Art and Architecture in Italy: 1600–1750 (1958), Sculpture (1977), and (with his wife Margot Wittkower) Born under Saturn: The Character and Conduct of Artists (1963).

Wittkower, Rudolf (1901–71). Anglo-German art historian. He was born and brought up in Germany, but held British citizenship through his father, who had been born in England. After studying at the universities of Munich and Berlin, he worked at the Biblioteca Hertziana in Rome from 1923 to 1933. From 1934 to 1956 he was on the staff of the Warburg Institute in London and from 1949 to 1956 was also professor of history of art at University College London. In 1956 he moved to Columbia University, New York, as head of the Department of Fine Arts and Archaeology, which under his direction became one of the leading centres of art-historical scholarship in the USA. After he retired in 1969 he was Kress professor at the National Gallery in Washington and Slade professor at Cambridge. Wittkower's many books and articles were devoted mainly to Italian art and architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries, and his writings form one of the cornerstones in the study of the Italian Baroque. His major books, several of which have appeared in revised editions, include: Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism (1949), Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1955), Art and Architecture in Italy: 1600–1750 (1958), Sculpture (1977), and (with his wife Margot Wittkower) Born under Saturn: The Character and Conduct of Artists (1963).