Basel Icons: Jacob Burckhardt

3 days ago3 min read

An influential historian and pioneer of the study of art history, Jacob Burckhardt is certainly one of Basel's Icons.

It is the historian’s function, not to make us clever for the next time, but to make us wise forever.― Jacob Burckhardt

Early Life

Born in Basel on May 25, 1818, Jacob Burckhardt was a highly-influential Swiss historian and cultural critic. Burckhardt was born into well-known and respected Basler family. His father was a minister at the cathedral, which eventually led Burckhardt into pursuing theology at the University of Basel.

He soon, however, shifted his focus to history and art history when he began studying at the University of Berlin in 1839. It was here, under professors Franz Kugler and Leopold von Ranke that Burckhardt formed an understanding of art through its historical context, which was a new concept at the time. Ranke's approach to history was to view it "as it really was" ("wie es eigentlich gewesen"). This perspective led Burckhardt to assess past events collectively, which led to a new way of studying history, a more holistic approach where elements of art, social, and cultural aspects combined to form a new historical perspective.

Founding Father of Art History

Burckhardt's strong interest in history led him to contribute to Geschichte der neueren Baukunst, (History of Recent Architecture) which formed volume four of Franz Kugler’s historical 1856 text, Geschichte der Baukunst (History of Architecture). Burckhardt's specialty was the Renaissance and he showed how this key period shaped modern art and architecture. Burckhardt also showed how the social and cultural elements of the Renaissance reflected the historical significance of the period. This work reinforced his idea that art as well as daily life were crucial to providing a comprehensive historical interpretation.

Pioneering Approach to History

Burckhardt further constructed this new approach towards the study of history and became one of the first historians to view time periods holistically. He believed that to truly understand a historical era, one must consider its cultural and artistic achievements alongside its political and social developments. As historian Sigfried Giedion said, "The great discoverer of the age of the Renaissance, Burckhardt first showed how a period should be treated in its entirety, with regard not only for its painting, sculpture and architecture, but for the social institutions of its daily life as well." This was a novel approach at the time, as most historians focused primarily on political events and figures.

His most renowned work, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (1860), exemplifies this approach. In the text, Burckhardt explored the Renaissance not just as a series of political events but as a cultural movement that influenced every aspect of daily life. He examined art, literature, social customs, and institutions, providing a comprehensive picture of the period. Additionally, Burckhardt was the first historian to use modernism within an academic context. He noted that the changes in art and culture during the Renaissance marked the beginning of modernity.

Legacy

Jacob Burckhardt left a long-lasting legacy as the founding father of art history. His interconnected approach has significantly impacted how historians and scholars view history through the years. Until his final days, he taught art history the University of Basel and passed away on August 8, 1897. He remains an iconic Swiss figure and is now depicted on the Swiss thousand-franc banknote.