Biographical Memoirs: Ernst Kitzinger
John Mitchell
27 DECEMBER 1012 * 22 JANUARY 2003 ERNST KITZINGER, who died in Poughkeepsie, New York, on January at the age of ninety, was one last regiment distinguished art historians were forced to flee Germany with rise National Socialism, and effectively changed complexion subject English-speaking world, revitalizing academic study visual arts North America rendering it for first time really respectable British Isles. That an exodus that touched not only scholars Jewish ancestry like Kitzinger himself his old friends colleagues Sir Ernst Gombrich, Rudolf Wittkower, Erwin Panofsky England America, but also impressive tally leading non-Jewish German Austrian academics anti-Nazi convictions, Fritz Volbach, found sanctuary during war Vatican City, Kitzinger's lifelong co-worker Byzantium Norman Sicily, Otto Demus, assisted Allied effort from London then returned native Vienna care cultural heritage war-torn country. The result extraordinary enrichment life activity United States 1930s postwar decades. As Walter Cook, director Institute Fine Arts York University, centres history States, once memorably remarked, shook tree, I gathered up fruit as fell. interests ranged over whole late antique early medieval Anglo-Saxon Northumbria Carolingian Francia through Rome, Balkans Byzantium; this vast spectrum interest expertise allowed him have such impact subject, put a new shape way which we understand development artistic practice millennium all its various manifestations. born Munich 1912 into professional family; father lawyer mother figure child welfare. He studied university there, where principal teacher Wilhelm Pinder, forceful charismatic character, colourful intellectual culture city, popularizing expert Middle Ages, who, although seduced by nationalistic agenda fair-minded open-hearted enough encourage complete doctoral thesis breakneck speed before he compelled Nazi curtailment 1935. In later recollection, vividly points colour times, recounted how together summer 1933 happened see Hitler entourage enter Cafe Heck, favourite haunt, Hofgarten Munich; overcome curiosity followed them in; ordered coffee neighbouring table then, fearful being able contain rage rising rapidly thought slight, sallow, unimpressive man should be ruining lives so many ordinary people, rose precipitately left. circumstances time, went after semester began research would culminate dissertation. With thesis, inquiry nature painting mosaics Rome earliest revealed clear subtle appreciation qualities works remarkable ability synthesize sights insights coherent evolutionary structure. Researched written well under two years, consigned examined twenty-second birthday, immediately recognized putting onto standing, remains fundamental starting point Rome. …
Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society: Held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge