Via activa a via contemplativa vo vybraných interpretáciách renesančných diel Erwinom Panofskym

Abstract

The paper deals with the processing of the theme of active and contemplative life in three selected examples of Renaissance art, namely in Durer’s engravings Knight, Death and the Devil and Saint Jerome in His Study and Titian’s painting Sacred and Profane Love. These three artworks were also interpreted by Erwin Panofsky. According to the Panofsky’s interpretations, the ideals of active and contemplative life in the three mentioned artworks are rendered as two mutually contrasting and incompatible ideals. After a brief introduction into the Renaissance Neo-platonic teachings on an active and contemplative life, which was also used by Panofsky in his interpretations, the paper points out that ideals of activity and contemplation depicted in the two Durer’s engravings and in the Titian’s painting can also be interpreted as complementary and mutually penetrating ideals. Moreover, the paper points to the possibility that Erwin Panofsky was influenced by his own understanding of the subject in the perception and interpretation of the three artworks.