Disscussion on John III Sobieski in Vienna
The „John III Sobieski – Polish national hero and winner of the Battle of Vienna . History. Memory. Heritage” conference will be held on 19-20 September in the PAS Scientific Center in Vienna and in the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
The aim of this conference is to discuss the character of John III Sobieski from historiographical perspective of Poland, Germany, and Austria. According to the organisers, the historians of art will provide a new perspective on the Sarmatian phenomenon and the intriguing history of the Sobieski’s first monument. They will also present images of Sobieski on coins and medals and in paintings and holy icons.
King John III Sobieski is inextricably linked to the history of Poland and Austria. As the commander-in-chief of united armed forces, he liberated Vienna from the Ottoman siege at the 1863 battle of Vienna. With this military victory, the Polish King secured himself a place in world history. Sobieski is well known for his accomplishments on the battlefield and in European politics but he was also a well-educated man of the world. He displayed a keen interest in the arts and by supporting scientists and artists he became famous as the patron of culture.
We read in the invitation: „An in-debth presentation of the king, his achievements and the rise of the king’s legend will allow you to address burning questions such as: Is it justified to portray Sobieski, steeped in Sarmatian and oriental culture, as a vanquisher of Islam and a shield of Christianity in Europe? Can we refer to John III Sobieski as the patron of anti-Muslim and anti-Turkish attitudes in today’s Europe?”
The conference is open to anyone interested in the topic. The lectures will be translated simultaneously into Polish and German. Some of the panels address strictly scientific issues, others address scientific issues for the general public.
The lectures will be held in the Theatre Hall of the Austrian Academy of Sciences as well as in the Hall of King John III Sobieski in the PAS Scientific Center in Vienna.
The event is organised by: the Polish Academy of Sciences – Scientific Center in Vienna, the Museum of the King John III’s Palace at Wilanow, the Institute of Culture Studies and Theatre History and the Institute of the History of Art and Musicology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Detailed program is available here.
The conference is accompanied by the „John III Sobieski. A Polish King in Vienna” exhibition presented in Vienna Winter Palace of Prince Eugen of Savoy (Belvedere). The exhibition is open to visitors from July to November 2017.
