Rückführung des Herzogs Wilhelm von Aquitanien in die Kirche 1731

Curator: Here we have Cosmas Damian Asam’s "Rückführung des Herzogs Wilhelm von Aquitanien in die Kirche," a drawing completed in 1731 and held at the Städel Museum. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the overall sketchiness of it. It’s like a captured dream, full of drama but slightly blurred around the edges, all rendered in soft greys. It feels ethereal. Curator: Indeed. Asam’s baroque style is evident here, not just in the subject matter of a historical event—the return of Duke William of Aquitaine to the church—but also in the dramatic composition. It depicts power, redemption, and the church's role in shaping the social and political landscape. Editor: Look at that swirl of bodies! People are being lifted and carried! There's this feeling of upward momentum even though the scene itself looks grounded on solid church steps. You know what it reminds me of? A visual opera! All grand gestures and heightened emotion. Curator: That's insightful. Asam understood how to craft a persuasive visual argument, emphasizing the triumph of the church through his dynamic and idealized depictions of key figures and through his depiction of heavenly beings as directly related with this victory. Note the strategic placement of the Duke near the clergy, symbolizing his reintegration into the Christian community. Editor: But do you think this idealized presentation glosses over whatever events actually took place? Does this drawing give us any real insights, or simply create a stage for established institutional powers? Curator: Art always participates in established societal structures, and this sketch by Asam certainly plays that role, albeit skillfully done. This artwork’s location within the Städel highlights how the institution sanctifies and mediates even potentially contested narratives of power and faith. Editor: Well, for me, it's a reminder that even sketches can be incredibly powerful, conjuring entire worlds, even if it’s one dipped in myth and the smoke of Baroque splendor. It's a ghost of an idea, captured in graphite, and full of untold stories! Curator: A valuable ghost, offering us today insights into 18th century art as well as culture and politics, its institutions and representation.