Francine Giese, PD Dr.
Francine Giese is an internationally recognized scholar of Art History, specialized in the arts of glass, architecture and interior design in the Islamic World and the West, monument preservation and Orientalism. In the framework of her research projects, she has developed an extensive scientific activity and built up a far-reaching professional network across Europe and the USA.
She is director of the Vitrocentre and Vitromusée Romont. From 2014–2019 she held a SNSF professorship at the Department of Art History at the University of Zurich, where she directed the research project Mudejarismo and Moorish Revival in Europe. Her PhD thesis, dealing with the Islamic ribbed vault, was published in 2007 (Gebr. Mann), and her habilitation (second book) on building and restoration practices in the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba issued in 2016 (Peter Lang). Her research focuses on the arts of glass, transcultural exchanges and artistic transfers between the Islamic World and the West (Middle Ages/19thcentury), architecture and interior design, materiality, architectural Orientalism, and monument preservation.
Her distinguished memberships and scientific activities include: Chairwomen of the scientific committee of Thun Castle, Deputy Chairwoman of the Ernst Herzfeld Society for the Study of Islamic Art and Archaeology, Member of the German Archaeological Institute, Member of the scientific committee of Corpus Vitrearum Helvetiae, Member of the scientific committee of the German Archaeological Institute in Madrid, Member of the scientific committee of the Swiss Asian Society (SAG), Member of the scientific committee of the Swiss Society for the Middle East and Islamic Cultures (SGMOIK), Member of the scientific committee of Manazir: Swiss Platform for the Study of Visual Arts, Architecture and Heritage in the MENA Region, Member of the scientific committee of the Ernst Herzfeld Award for Master Theses in Islamic Art History and Archaeology, Founding member of Swiss Network of Historicism, Member of the scientific committee of the University Research Priority Program Asia and Europe (2014–2017), Member of AcademiaNet. European Expert Database of Outstanding Women in Academia, Member of the editorial board of the book series Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology (SIAA) | Studien zur islamischen Kunst und Archäologie (SIKA) (Reichert, Wiesbaden/Germany). Francine Giese has organized more than fifteen international conferences, edited important art historical publications and curated exhibitions in Switzerland and Germany.
Research
Current Projects
The Royal Chapel of Córdoba Revisited. Stucco Glass Windows in Medieval Iberia (PI, 2022–2026)
De Iulius Caesar a los Reyes Católicos: análisis arqueológico de 1500 años de historia en la Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba y su entorno urbano (DE IURE, Ref.: PID2020- 117643GB-I00, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación), Universidad de Córdoba (Member of research team, 2021–2025)
Leuchtkraft des Orients. Materialität, Provenienz und Rezeption islamischer Glasmalerei im Westen (PI, SNSF 2020–2024)
Islamic Legacy: Narratives East, West, South, North of the Mediterranean (1350–1750), (ISLE) CA18129 (Member of Managing Committee, University of Zurich, 2019–2024)
Previous Projects
Mudejarismo and Moorish Revival in Europe. Transcultural exchanges between Muslims, Christians and Jews in the Architecture of the Middle Ages and Modern Times (PI, University of Zurich, 2014–2019)
Der Orient in der Schweiz. Neo-islamische Architektur und Interieurs im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert (PI, University of Zurich, 2015–2018)
Digitalización e Investigación de documentos y Archivos Científicos-Técnicos sobre Arqueología. La recuperación del Legado Documental de Félix Hernández Giménez (1899–1975), Referencia: HAR2015–66753-R. Entidad financiadora Ministerio español de Economía y Competitividad. Programa Nacional de I+D+I orientada a los retos de la Sociedad (Member of scientific committee, Universidad de Córdoba, 2016–2019)
Bauen und Erhalten in al-Andalus (Habilitation project, University of Bern, 2006–2013, incl. 2 maternity leaves)
Publications
The publications listed below reflect the research interests of Francine Giese, focussing on exchange and artistic transfer in the Middle Ages and the 19th century, building techniques and materiality and 19th-century collectorship. The publication of her dissertation and habilitation (second book) by internationally recognized editorials has been supported by funding of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Gerda Henkel Foundation (Germany), according to highly competitive selection criteria, confirming the quality of the monographs.
Monographs
Francine Giese, Bauen und Erhalten in al-Andalus. Bau- und Restaurierungspraxis in der Moschee-Kathedrale von Córdoba, Bern: Peter Lang, 2016.
Francine Giese, Das islamische Rippengewölbe. Ursprung, Form, Verbreitung, Berlin: Gebr. Mann, 2007.
Edited Books and Journals
Francine Giese, Hans Thomsen, Elisa Ambrosio, Alina Martimyanova, China and The West. Reconsidering Chinese Reverse Glass Painting (Glass Art. New research by Vitrocentre Romont 1), Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022.
Sandra Gianfreda, Francine Giese, Axel Langer and Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), Geometry and Colour: Decoding the Arts of Islam in the West 1880–1945 (Manazir Journal 3), 2021.
Francine Giese (ed.), Mudejarismo and Moorish Revival in Europe. Cultural Negotiations and Artistic Translations in the Middle Ages and 19th-century Historicism, Leiden: Brill, 2021.
Francine Giese, Alberto León Muñoz (eds.), Artistic Dialogue during the Middle Ages. Islamic Art – Mudéjar Art, proceedings of the international conference held in Cordoba, 18–19 November 2016, Cordoba: Casa Arabe, 2020.
Francine Giese (ed.), La redécouverte de la couleur (Arts du verre. Expositions du Vitromusée Romont), exhibition catalogue (Vitromusée Romont 2020–2021), Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020.
Francine Giese, Mercedes Volait, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), A l’Orientale – Collecting, Displaying and Appropriating Islamic Art and Architecture in the West (Arts and Archeology of the Islamic World), Leiden: Brill, 2019.
Francine Giese, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), The Protagonists of the Moorish Revival: Translating Ibero-Islamic Heritage in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Europe. Thematical issue of Art in Translation, vol. 11.2, 2019, <http://doi.org/10.1080/17561310.2019.1703333>.
Francine Giese, Leïla el-Wakil, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), Der Orient in der Schweiz / L’Orient en Suisse. Neo-islamische Architektur und Interieurs im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert (Welten des Islams, 10), Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2019.
Francine Giese (ed.), Preserving a Shared Heritage. Challenges, Potential and Limits (bfo-Journal 4.2018), 2018, http://bauforschungonline.ch/bfo-journal-42018.html.
Francine Giese, Markus Thome, Anna Pawlak (eds.), Tomb, Memory, Space. Concepts of Representation in Premodern Christian and Islamic Art, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2018.
Francine Giese, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), The Power of Symbols. The Alhambra in a Global Context, proceedings of the international conference held in Zurich, 15–17 September 2016, Bern: Peter Lang, 2018.
Francine Giese, Ariane Varela Braga et al. (eds.), A Fashionable Style – Carl von Diebitsch und das Maurische Revival, exhibition catalogue (Architekturmuseum TU Berlin), Bern: Peter Lang, 2017.
Francine Giese, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), Die Aneignung des Orients. L’appropriation de l’Orient (SGMOIK Bulletin 44), Bern: SGMOIK, 2017.
Francine Giese, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), The Myth of the Orient. Architecture and Ornament in the Age of Orientalism, proceedings of the international conference held at Oberhofen Castle, 12 June 2015, Bern: Peter Lang, 2016.
Francine Giese et al., Mythos Orient. Ein Berner Architekt in Kairo, exhibition catalogue (Oberhofen Castle), Oberhofen: Stiftung Oberhofen, 2015.
Articles with peer review
“Eastern Light. Western Fascination for Islamic Coloured Glass Windows”, in: Sandra Gianfreda, Francine Giese, Axel Langer and Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), Geometry and Colour: Decoding the Arts of Islam in the West 1880–1945 (Manazir Journal 3), 2021, 93–109.
“Architektonische Assemblagen und das Phänomen der Transmaterialität in neo-islamischen Stilräumen”, in: Julia Rüdiger and Maximilian Hartmuth (ed.), Gezimmertes Morgenland. Orientalische und orientalisierende Holzinterieurs in Mitteleuropa im späten 19. Jahrhundert Phänomenalität, Materialität, Historizität, Wien: Böhlau, 2021, 45–57.
Francine Giese and Elena Paulino Montero, “Mudéjar Art and Architecture”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Third Edition, Leiden: Brill, 2020 (forthcoming).
“Moschee oder Kathedrale? Wenn zwei Religionen denselben Bau beanspruchen”, Beiträge zur Islamischen Kunst und Archäologie 6, 2020, 153–162.
Francine Giese, “International Fashion and Personal Taste. Neo-Islamic Style Rooms and Orientalizing Scenographies in Private Museums”, in: Francine Giese, Mercedes Volait, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), A l’Orientale – Collecting, Displaying and Appropriating Islamic Art and Architecture in the West (Arts and Archeology of the Islamic World), Leiden: Brill, 2019, 92–108.
Francine Giese, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), “The Protagonists of the Moorish Revival: Translating Ibero-Islamic Heritage in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Europe”, Art in Translation, vol. 11.2, 2019, 119–123, <http://doi.org/10.1080/17561310.2019.1703333>.
Francine Giese and Ariane Varela Braga, “Translocating Metropolitan Display Strategies in 19th-century Europe. Frederick Stibbert, Henri Moser and their Orientalist Style Rooms”, in: International Journal of Islamic Architecture, 8.1, 115–40, doi: 10.1386/ijia.8.1.115_1.
“From al-Andalus to Germany – Artistic Transfer in Nineteenth century Europe”, in: Angelika Malinar, Simone Müller (eds.), Asia and Europe – Interconnected: Agents, Concepts and Things, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2019 (in press).
“Befundsicherung oder neuzeitlicher Ersatz? Die wechselvolle Geschichte der Cordobeser Mosaiken im 19. Jh. und frühen 20. Jh.”, Beiträge zur Islamischen Kunst und Archäologie, vol. 5, 2017, 185–196.
Francine Giese et al., “Resplendence of al-Andalus. Exchange and Transfer Processes in Mudéjar and neo-Moorish Architecture”, Asiatische Studien, vol. 70.4, 2016, 1307–1353.
“From Style Room to Period Room. Henri Moser’s fumoir in Charlottenfels Castle”, in: S. Costa, D. Poulot, M. Volait (eds.), Period rooms. Allestimenti storici tra arte, gusto e collezionismo, Atti del Convegno Internazionale, Bologna, 18–19 aprile 2016, Bologna: Bononia University Press, 2016, 153–160.
“Félix Hernández Giménez und die Erhaltung der Grossen Moschee von Córdoba”, in: Madrider Mitteilungen, 2015, vol. 56, 494–507.
“Sein und Schein in der spanisch-islamischen Architektur. Die Arkaturen der Capilla de Villaviciosa und des Patio de los Leones”, in: Miradas, vol. 1, October 2014.
“Die Moschee von Córdoba zwischen Ost und West”, in: Madrider Mitteilungen, 2009, vol. 50, 524–537.
“La Mezquita Mayor de Córdoba y Samarra”, Anales de Arqueología Cordobesa, 2008, vol. 19, 277–292.
“Die Gewölbe der Grossen Moschee von Córdoba und der islamische Osten”, in: Madrider Mitteilungen, 2007, vol. 48, 306–322.
Articles in Journals / Proceedings / E-Journals
Francine Giese and Sarah Keller, “Orientrezeption zwischen Kopie und Imagination. Die neo-maurischen Glasmalereien im Schloss Castell in Tägerwilen”, in: Amt für Denkmalpflege des Kantons Thurgau (ed.), Licht- und Farbenzauber – Glasmalerei im Thurgau (Denkmalpflege im Thurgau, 23), Basel: Schwabe, 2022, 130–141.
“Die Thuner Alhambra-Vasen: Zeugnisse einer regionalen Kunstindustrie mit überregionalen Ambitionen”, in: Jahresbericht Schloss Thun 2021, Thun: Stiftung Schloss Thun, 2022, 36–40.
“Schweizer Tradition trifft auf amerikanische Innovation: Opaleszentglas in der Schweizer Glasmalerei um 1900”, Zeitschrift des Schweizer Netzwerks für Historismus 2, 2021, 51–63.
Francine Giese and Erwin Baumgartner, “Eine erlesene Auswahl. Die neue Glassektion im Vitromusée Romont”, Der Glasfreund 78, 2021, < https://pressglas-korrespondenz.de/aktuelles/pdf/pk-2021w-glasfreund-2021–78.pdf >.
“«shades of color»: Neuartige Farbnuancen des amerikanischen Opaleszentglases”, in: Francine Giese (ed.), La redécouverte de la couleur (Arts du verre. Expositions du Vitromusée Romont), exhibition catalogue (Vitromusée Romont 2020–2021), Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020, 65–84.
“Orientalisierende Fumoirs in der Schweiz. Islamische Architekturzitate zwischen Nachahmung, Abguss und Assemblage”, in: Francine Giese, Leïla el-Wakil, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), Der Orient in der Schweiz / L’Orient en Suisse. Neo-islamische Architektur und Interieurs im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert (Welten des Islams, 10), Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2019, 59–84.
“Begegnung mit einem aussergewöhnlichen Stück aus der Sammlung des Museums Schloss Thun”, in: Jahresbericht Schloss Thun 2018, Thun: Stiftung Schloss Thun, 2019, 41–47.
“Editorial”, in: Preserving a Shared Heritage. Challenges, Potential and Limits (bfo-Journal 4.2018), 2018, <http://bauforschungonline.ch/bfo-journal-42018.html>.
“«Islamic Stars in the West». Échanges culturels et transferts artistiques entre le Monde de l’Islam et l’Occident», in: Silvia Naef, Pauline Nerfin, Nadia Radwan (eds.), D’une rive à l’autre: patrimoines croisés. Mélanges an l’honneur de Leïla el-Wakil, Genève: Slatkine, 2018, 209–221.
“An inclination for the Moorish Style. Architects and Networks in 19th century Germany”, in: Francine Giese, Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), The Power of Symbols. The Alhambra in a Global Perspective, Bern: Peter Lang, 2018, 225–244.
“The Capilla Real in Córdoba. Transcultural Exchange in Medieval Iberia”, in: Francine Giese, Markus Thome, Anna Pawlak (eds.), Tomb, Memory, Space. Concepts of Representation in Premodern Christian and Islamic Art, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2018, 143–157.
Précis “Islamic Art History and Archaeology in Crisis? Challenges and New Perspectives”, Madrid, January 12–15, 2017”, in: International Journal of Islamic Architecture, 2017, 201–203.
“Maurische Architekturzitate zwischen Kopie und Kreation”, in: Francine Giese and Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), A Fashionable Style. Carl von Diebitsch und das Maurische Revival, Bern: Peter Lang, 2017, 45–55.
“Die architektonische Transformation des Löwenhofes”, in: Francine Giese and Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), A Fashionable Style. Carl von Diebitsch und das Maurische Revival, Bern: Peter Lang, 2017, 59–70.
Francine Giese and Josephin Heller, “Nasridische Handwerkskunst und preußische Innovation. Revitalisierung und Transfer islamischer Stuckverfahren im 19. Jahrhundert”, in: Francine Giese and Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), A Fashionable Style. Carl von Diebitsch und das Maurische Revival, Bern: Peter Lang, 2017, 127–138.
Francine Giese and Ariane Varela Braga, “Architecture, Ornament and Colour. The Fascination for the Islamic Heritage of al-Andalus in 19th-Century Europe”, in: Francine Giese and Ariane Varela Braga (eds.), A Fashionable Style. Carl von Diebitsch und das Maurische Revival, Bern: Peter Lang, 2017, 29–43.
“The Oberhofen Selamlik. A Cairene mandara made in Switzerland”, The Myth of the Orient. Architecture and Ornament in the Age of Orientalism, proceedings of the international conference held at Oberhofen Castle, 12 June 2015, Bern: Peter Lang, 2016, 181–200.
“Wilhelm Meyer und der Traum von al-Andalus”, in: Mitteilungen der Carl Justi-Vereinigung, vol. 27./28., 2015/16, 124–130.
“Mudejarismo und maurisches Revival in Europa”, Mitteilungen der Carl Justi-Vereinigung, vol. 27./28., 2015/16, 117–123.
“Von der Studie zum Interieur. Die Entstehung des Selamliks im Schloss Oberhofen”, Mythos Orient. Ein Berner Architekt in Kairo, exhibition catalogue (Oberhofen Castle), Oberhofen: Stiftung Schloss Oberhofen, 2015.
“Theodor Zeerleder und Henri Moser – zwei Schweizer Orientreisende und ihre Fumoirs”, Mythos Orient. Ein Berner Architekt in Kairo, exhibition catalogue (Oberhofen Castle), Oberhofen: Stiftung Schloss Oberhofen, 2015.
“Restorating al-Andalus. The Alhambra and the Spanish Heritage Debate”, www.bauforschungonline.ch, April 2014.
“The Alhambra in Granada and the Memory of its Islamic Past”, in: Crossing cultures: conflict, migration and convergence: the proceedings of the 32nd International Congress of the History of Art (Comité Internationale d'Histoire de l'Art, CIHA), The University of Melbourne, 13–18 January 2008, Jaynie Anderson (ed.), Carlton (Vic.): The Miegunyah Press, 2009, 529–531.
“Die Grosse Moschee von Cordoba zwischen Christianisierung und Re-Islamisierung”, Online-Publikation auf www.bauforschungonline.ch, August 2007.
“Die Kanonisierung des westislamischen Sakralbaus”, www.bauforschungonline.ch, September 2006.
“Sinan zwischen Vision und Auftragswerk”, www.bauforschungonline.ch, June 2006.
“Quand une mosquée devient cathédrale. Cordoue et son passé islamique”, in: Conservation in changing societies. Heritage and development. Proceedings of the international conference on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Raymond Lemaire International Center for Conservation (1976–2006), Leuven, May 22–25, 2006, Leuven: Raymond Lemaire International Center for Conservation, 161–170.
“Vom engen Kloster zum stolzen Palast”, in: 100 Jahre Hauptgebäude Bern, Oktober 2003, 26–29.
“100 Jahre Hauptgebäude. Der Universitätsneubau auf der Grossen Schanze”, in: Mitteilungsblatt 2003 des Berner Heimatschutzes, 28–29.