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With its extensive programme of public events in Florence, Berlin and elsewhere, the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz sees itself as a forum for lively, international and interdisciplinary academic exchange. The Institute makes its research findings accessible to the public in exhibitions and publications. Through calls for papers, research fellowships and job opportunities, it aims to promote collaboration with academics from around the world.

With its programme of events and exhibitions, the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz sees itself as a forum for academic exchange. Through its calls for papers, fellowships and job opportunities, it aims to foster academic collaboration.
What’s on

Events

Exhibitions

Recent Publications

Call for Papers

Work with us

Newsletter

Social Media

Videos

In the Media

Via Gustavo Modena 13
Institute
Institute

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz understands itself as a laboratory of basic research in art history in dialogue with other disciplines. Founded in 1897, it has been an institute of the Max Planck Society since 2002. Its research is dedicated to the histories of art and architecture in a transcultural and global perspective, with a focus on Italy, Europe and the Mediterranean. The institute is particularly committed to supporting young scholars, while its renowned library and Photothek are open to the international community of researchers.

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz understands itself as a laboratory of basic research in art history in dialogue with other disciplines. Founded in 1897, it has been an institute of the Max Planck Society since 2002. Its research is dedicated to the histories of art and architecture in a transcultural and global perspective, with a focus on Italy, Europe and the Mediterranean.
About the Institute

Departments & Research Groups

People

Equal Opportunities

Research Support

History

Archives

Scientific Advisory Board

Board of Trustees

Förderverein

Sponsors and Patrons
Research
Research

A place of presence, encounters, and collaborations between scholars of high international level, the KHI sees its role in co-shaping the future of the discipline, in dialogue with other fields such as anthropology, conservation sciences, archaeology, philosophy, and history. Over the last years the projects of the KHI have focused on the histories of art, architecture and photography from a transcultural perspective in a wide chronological and geographical range. At the KHI, (art) historical research is intertwined with a critical engagement in contemporary debates and challenges, such as ecology, aesthetics, ethics, urbanization, heritage, geopolitics, migration, discourses and practices of care, visual and material culture, global art worlds, the future of museums and politics of archives, as well as codifications, languages and narratives, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and others. What does it mean and how does it work to do art history under such conditions and concerns? This is one of the prime questions the KHI community of scholars is engaging with in their projects and collaborations.

A place of presence, encounters, and collaborations between scholars of high international level, the KHI sees its role in co-shaping the future of the discipline, in dialogue with other fields such as anthropology, conservation sciences, archaeology, philosophy, and history. Over the last years the projects of the KHI have focused on the histories of art, architecture and photography from a transcultural perspective in a wide chronological and geographical range. At the KHI, (art) historical research is intertwined with a critical engagement in contemporary debates and challenges, such as ecology, aesthetics, ethics, urbanization, heritage, geopolitics, migration, discourses and practices of care, visual and material culture, global art worlds, the future of museums and politics of archives, as well as codifications, languages and narratives, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and others. What does it mean and how does it work to do art history under such conditions and concerns? This is one of the prime questions the KHI community of scholars is engaging with in their projects and collaborations.
Overview of Research Areas

Department Bianca de Divitiis

Department Gerhard Wolf

Research Group Hannah Baader

Research Group Hana Gründler

Lise Meitner Group Anna-Maria Meister

External Member Jaś Elsner

4A_Lab Research Program

Director emeritus Alessandro Nova

Director emeritus Max Seidel

Photothek

Digital Humanities

Doctoral Projects

Postdoctoral Projects

Staff Projects

Collaborative Research Projects

Associated Projects

Completed Projects
Publications
Publications

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz issues a range of individual and serial publications, through which it makes its research findings accessible to the public. The Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Institutes in Florenz is one of the oldest and most prestigious art-historical journals worldwide. Research reports provide information about the Institute's activities and about the academic projects of its staff and fellows.

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz issues a range of individual and serial publications, as well as a specialist journal and research reports, through which it makes its research findings accessible to the public.
Overview of Publications

Mitteilungen des KHI

Individual Publications

Research Reports

Italienische Forschungen

Studi e Ricerche

I mandorli

Collana del KHI

Connecting Art Histories in the Museum

Zeitschrift für Ideengeschichte

Zeitsprünge

German Edition of the 'Vite' of Giorgio Vasari

Die Kirchen von Siena
Library
Library

In its function as archive and work tool, the Library, with its collections and working conditions, forms the most important basis of academic study for members of the Institute and guests. Both historical and current specialist literature from various disciplines is available for consultation by an international community of researchers. With its elaborate cataloguing and indexing system, the Library also makes a significant contribution towards assuring the quality of the research conducted at the institute.

In its function as archive and work tool, the Library with its collections forms the most important basis of academic study. Both historical and current specialist literature is available for consultation.
About the Library

Scope of Collection

Catalogues

Digital Library

Library Projects

Special Collections

Joint Initiatives
Photothek
Photothek

The Photothek is one of the most important collections of documentary photographs of Italian art and architecture. As a research facility and laboratory, it plays a leading role in the international and transdisciplinary debate on the function of photo archives in 21st-century research and societies. Its daily tasks, such as photo campaigns, cataloguing and digitization, are inseparably linked with its scholarly activities. With its projects, conferences, workshops and publications, the Photothek makes an active contribution to the academic life of the Institute.

The Photothek is one of the most important collections of documentary photographs of Italian art. As a research laboratory, it contributes to the international and transdisciplinary debate on the role of photo archives in the 21st century.
About the Photothek

Holdings

Digital Resources

Projects

Publications

Photography Research Library

Florence Declaration

Online Exhibitions

Contact
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Back
News
News

With its extensive programme of public events in Florence, Berlin and elsewhere, the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz sees itself as a forum for lively, international and interdisciplinary academic exchange. The Institute makes its research findings accessible to the public in exhibitions and publications. Through calls for papers, research fellowships and job opportunities, it aims to promote collaboration with academics from around the world.

With its programme of events and exhibitions, the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz sees itself as a forum for academic exchange. Through its calls for papers, fellowships and job opportunities, it aims to foster academic collaboration.
What’s on

Events

Exhibitions

Recent Publications

Call for Papers

Work with us

Newsletter

Social Media

Videos

In the Media

Via Gustavo Modena 13
Institute
Institute

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz understands itself as a laboratory of basic research in art history in dialogue with other disciplines. Founded in 1897, it has been an institute of the Max Planck Society since 2002. Its research is dedicated to the histories of art and architecture in a transcultural and global perspective, with a focus on Italy, Europe and the Mediterranean. The institute is particularly committed to supporting young scholars, while its renowned library and Photothek are open to the international community of researchers.

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz understands itself as a laboratory of basic research in art history in dialogue with other disciplines. Founded in 1897, it has been an institute of the Max Planck Society since 2002. Its research is dedicated to the histories of art and architecture in a transcultural and global perspective, with a focus on Italy, Europe and the Mediterranean.
About the Institute

Departments & Research Groups

People

Equal Opportunities

Research Support

History

Archives

Scientific Advisory Board

Board of Trustees

Förderverein

Sponsors and Patrons
Research
Research

A place of presence, encounters, and collaborations between scholars of high international level, the KHI sees its role in co-shaping the future of the discipline, in dialogue with other fields such as anthropology, conservation sciences, archaeology, philosophy, and history. Over the last years the projects of the KHI have focused on the histories of art, architecture and photography from a transcultural perspective in a wide chronological and geographical range. At the KHI, (art) historical research is intertwined with a critical engagement in contemporary debates and challenges, such as ecology, aesthetics, ethics, urbanization, heritage, geopolitics, migration, discourses and practices of care, visual and material culture, global art worlds, the future of museums and politics of archives, as well as codifications, languages and narratives, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and others. What does it mean and how does it work to do art history under such conditions and concerns? This is one of the prime questions the KHI community of scholars is engaging with in their projects and collaborations.

A place of presence, encounters, and collaborations between scholars of high international level, the KHI sees its role in co-shaping the future of the discipline, in dialogue with other fields such as anthropology, conservation sciences, archaeology, philosophy, and history. Over the last years the projects of the KHI have focused on the histories of art, architecture and photography from a transcultural perspective in a wide chronological and geographical range. At the KHI, (art) historical research is intertwined with a critical engagement in contemporary debates and challenges, such as ecology, aesthetics, ethics, urbanization, heritage, geopolitics, migration, discourses and practices of care, visual and material culture, global art worlds, the future of museums and politics of archives, as well as codifications, languages and narratives, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and others. What does it mean and how does it work to do art history under such conditions and concerns? This is one of the prime questions the KHI community of scholars is engaging with in their projects and collaborations.
Overview of Research Areas

Department Bianca de Divitiis

Department Gerhard Wolf

Research Group Hannah Baader

Research Group Hana Gründler

Lise Meitner Group Anna-Maria Meister

External Member Jaś Elsner

4A_Lab Research Program

Director emeritus Alessandro Nova

Director emeritus Max Seidel

Photothek

Digital Humanities

Doctoral Projects

Postdoctoral Projects

Staff Projects

Collaborative Research Projects

Associated Projects

Completed Projects
Publications
Publications

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz issues a range of individual and serial publications, through which it makes its research findings accessible to the public. The Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Institutes in Florenz is one of the oldest and most prestigious art-historical journals worldwide. Research reports provide information about the Institute's activities and about the academic projects of its staff and fellows.

The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz issues a range of individual and serial publications, as well as a specialist journal and research reports, through which it makes its research findings accessible to the public.
Overview of Publications

Mitteilungen des KHI

Individual Publications

Research Reports

Italienische Forschungen

Studi e Ricerche

I mandorli

Collana del KHI

Connecting Art Histories in the Museum

Zeitschrift für Ideengeschichte

Zeitsprünge

German Edition of the 'Vite' of Giorgio Vasari

Die Kirchen von Siena
Library
Library

In its function as archive and work tool, the Library, with its collections and working conditions, forms the most important basis of academic study for members of the Institute and guests. Both historical and current specialist literature from various disciplines is available for consultation by an international community of researchers. With its elaborate cataloguing and indexing system, the Library also makes a significant contribution towards assuring the quality of the research conducted at the institute.

In its function as archive and work tool, the Library with its collections forms the most important basis of academic study. Both historical and current specialist literature is available for consultation.
About the Library

Scope of Collection

Catalogues

Digital Library

Library Projects

Special Collections

Joint Initiatives
Photothek
Photothek

The Photothek is one of the most important collections of documentary photographs of Italian art and architecture. As a research facility and laboratory, it plays a leading role in the international and transdisciplinary debate on the function of photo archives in 21st-century research and societies. Its daily tasks, such as photo campaigns, cataloguing and digitization, are inseparably linked with its scholarly activities. With its projects, conferences, workshops and publications, the Photothek makes an active contribution to the academic life of the Institute.

The Photothek is one of the most important collections of documentary photographs of Italian art. As a research laboratory, it contributes to the international and transdisciplinary debate on the role of photo archives in the 21st century.
About the Photothek

Holdings

Digital Resources

Projects

Publications

Photography Research Library

Florence Declaration

Online Exhibitions

Conference

Pandemic Histories in Transition I+II

19 February 2026

Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, San Francisco (USA)
Panel organized by Paulina León (University of California, Berkeley) and Nils Weber (Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut)

Lazaret of Beirut (Detail), Maison Bonfils, Courtesy of the Nicolas Sursock Museum, c. 1880

Panel I

Chair/Respondent: Gerhard Wolf (KHI–MPI)

9:00 AM
Pandemic Temporalities: Imagining Post-Pandemic Futures in Sixteenth-Century Mexico
Jennifer Scheper Hughes (University of California, Riverside)

9:20 AM
Powders of Milan: Disinformation and Epidemic Anxiety in the Iberian World
Paulina León (University of California, Berkeley)

9:40 AM
Painters in Milan After the Plague of 1630
Emma Lombardia Ferrari (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)

Break

Panel II

Chair: Jacob M Eisensmith (Macalester College)

11:00 AM
The Quarantine Island: Post-Catastrophic Architectural Heritage and the Origins of Quarantine
Nils Weber (Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut)

11:20 AM
Remembering and Misremembering the Plague
Ruth F. MacKay (Independent Scholar)

Venue
Contact

Venue

19 February 2026, 9:00am

Hilton San Francisco Union Square - Union Square 11 - Tower 3 - 4th Floor

Participating in RSA San Francisco 2026 requires RSA membership and conference registration.

LINKS

https://rsa.confex.com/rsa/2026/meetingapp.cgi/Session/9420

https://rsa.confex.com/rsa/2026/meetingapp.cgi/Session/9426

Contact

Nils Weber Doctoral Fellow, Department Wolf

E-Mail: nilsjonas.weber@khi.fi.it

Nils Weber Doctoral Fellow, Department Wolf

E-Mail: nilsjonas.weber@khi.fi.it

Nils Weber Doctoral Fellow, Department Wolf

E-Mail: nilsjonas.weber@khi.fi.it

Notice

This event will be documented photographically and/or recorded on video. Please let us know if you do not agree with the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz using images in which you might be recognizable for event documentation and public relation purposes (e.g. social media).

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