Projects / Programmes
Unexplored Latin and German Literature in the Slovenian Lands in the Baroque Period
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.07.00 |
Humanities |
Literary sciences |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H390 |
Humanities |
General and comparative literature, literary criticism, literary theory |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.02 |
Humanities |
Languages and Literature |
literary history, cultural history, Slovenian history, Baroque, Baroque literature, Baroque libraries, Slovenian literature, Latin literature, German literature, Protestant books
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
24714 |
PhD Luka Vidmar |
Literary sciences |
Head |
2011 - 2013 |
505 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The main subject of Slovenian literary history has traditionally been Slovenian literature, especially after the middle of 19th century, when Slovenian literature was recognized as the central bearer of the national idea. This was the main reason why literary historians never systematically studied the distinctively multilingual literature and culture that was characteristic of the Slovenian lands from the late Middle Ages to the early 19th century. They thereby renounced hosts of authors, especially from the 17th and 18th centuries, that were writing in Latin and German. To date, the literature of this period has never been fully described in a synthesis or bibliography.
This project represents the first systematic study of multilingual literature of the Slovenian lands in the Baroque period. Its main goal is to address the principal issues of the period that were overlooked by literary historians. The project will first focus on analyzing the three most important sources: 1) the Memoriale by Ljubljana’s Bishop T. Hren, describing the literary activity of the Slovenian Protestants (1605); 2) the chapter in Die Ehre deß Hertzogthums Crain listing the writers of Carniola by polymath J. V. Valvasor (1689); and 3) a biographical and bibliographical survey of the literature in the Slovenian lands titled Bibliotheca Labacensis publica by the historiographer J. G. Dolničar (1715).
On the basis of this analysis, the project will focus on research on important Baroque books and manuscripts that were neglected by literary historians. Re 1) In connection with Hren’s Memoriale the project envisages: searching for lost original manuscript and collating the text with the bishop’s later supplements. This will be followed by a detailed study of the development of literature in the Slovenian lands after the suppression of the Reformation. The research will include systematic investigation of old monastic libraries. The most important analysis will focus on presently unknown works; namely, four literarized epistles by the bishop of the Lavantine diocese, Stobej Palmburg: De reformatione religionis in Styria, Carinthia et Carniola. Re 2) In connection with Valvasor’s chapter, the project envisages (with special regard to the development of new literary genres) a study of selected (once famous) works by Valvasor’s contemporaries; for example, romance novels by Baron Wützenstein. Re 3) With regard to Dolničar’s essay, the project envisages a study of contemporary authors and works that remained relatively unknown and unstudied in spite of their importance. The focus of interest will be on authors that were active in a broader European context (A. Ž. Dolničar in Italy), and works that introduced or consolidated new literary genres in the Slovenian lands (e.g., the epic and travel journal). In connection with all the aims listed above, the project will also launch an investigation of certain foreign libraries (Český Krumlov castle) that probably hold some rare or supposedly lost publications. The results will be fully published in digital edition of sources (Hren, Valvasor, Dolničar), in a monograph (the synthesis of new investigations), and in articles (individual subjects). The final aim of the project is the groundwork for a synthetic literary and cultural history of the Slovenian lands in the Baroque period.
This project is directed toward acquiring, publishing, and explaining exclusively new information. The results will be original scholarly findings, acquired through research on historical and literary sources that are newly discovered or have been exhaustively studied for the first time. New information will have an influence on Slovenian cultural, and general history. New findings will be of interest to Austrian, German, and Italian readers. Above all, the project will be important for Slovenian literary history: studies of old literary sources became exceedingly rare in the last five decades.
Significance for science
Using interdisciplinary approach, the project dealt with problems that were insufficiently or inappropriately discussed in literary, cultural, and general history, e.g., burnings of Protestant books during Counter-Reformation, forbidden books until the end of the 18th century, connections between the Academy of the Industrious and Italy, multilingual Baroque literature in Slovenia etc. The project explained these problems anew: interpretations were based upon new information, found in old sources, books, and manuscripts. Publishing of new information about burnings of Protestant books during Counter-Reformation (that belong to the most notorious events in national history) met with a wide response in literary, cultural, and general history. Series of presentations about forbidden books in authentic atmosphere of the Seminary Library found a similar response. A book about the Academy of the Industrious was published by the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. New data, presented by the project, changed in several ways traditional image of Inner Austria and its relations with Baroque culture in Holy Roman Empire and Italy in 17th and 18th centuries. Thus, they are also interesting for Austrian, German, and Italian scholars. Publishing of the four most important sources from that period (Trubar, Hren, Valvasor, Dolničar) in electronic edition with free access together with detailed studies contributed to more accurate image of Baroque literature and culture in Slovenia that had been traditionally less researched, fragmentary, and partly inaccurate.
Significance for the country
Results of the project are important for unbiased understanding and assessment of certain processes and events from 17th and 18th century within the framework of Slovenian national history, cultural memory, and general education. Presentation of the results met with a wide response in general public. New discoveries regarding burnings of Protestant books during the Counter-Reformation (one of the most traumatic experiences of the national history) effectively questioned false interpretations of these events in school textbooks, journalism, and cultural memory. They immediately launched the change of historically false memorial tablet in front of the Town Hall in Ljubljana that included false information about date of the burnings, of language, and of number of destroyed books. Same findings caused changes in a scenario of the documentary about Dalmatin’s Bible (Radio and Television Slovenia) that had previously falsely mentioned the burnings of that biblical translation during Counter-Reformation. Series of presentations in the Seminary Library attracted a few hundred people. Audience had a chance to see copies of once prohibited works and to learn, who were the buyers, where they were buying such books, and what were the limits of such activity. The monograph about the Academy of the Industrious, published to celebrate the anniversary of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, drew attention of the general public to long and rich tradition of cosmopolitan academic activities in Slovenia. In the long term, we can expect new findings will be included in university programs and school textbooks and taken into a consideration by general public.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
