Publications
Image and Society at Reichenau c. 1000
A study of the paintings at Sankt Georg, Oberzell, on the UNESCO-listed Monastic Island of Reichenau reveals that the Liuthar Group of painters, active around 1000 AD, crafted iconography with dual ecclesiological and redemptive intentions. These works were designed to support a model of society favorable to clerics and monks, mirroring ambitions seen in contemporary abbeys like Cluny and Fleury during the Capetian kingdom. The research employs close observation of narrative ruptures and iconographic singularities to decipher the painters' programmatic intentions, offering new insights into the interplay between visual art and societal structures in early medieval Europe.
Was Gallus Anonymous, author of the famous Cronica et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum, of Croatian origin?
Gallus Anonymous, the renowned chronicler behind the Cronica et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum and Historia de translatione sanctorum Magni Nicolai, was of Croatian origin. This conclusion stems from detailed analysis of his writings and historical context, suggesting he hailed from an aristocratic clerical family linked to the Croatian royal court, likely originating from the royal monastery of St Bartholomew in Knin. Gallus, a Benedictine monk, probably supported Hungarian intervention in Croatia in 1091 and engaged in diplomatic activities across Europe, including participation in the Venetian expedition to Palestine. His association with the Benedictine monastery on Reichenau Island in Germany and subsequent move to Poland, likely facilitated by Almos' connections, provide further evidence of his Croatian roots and political affiliations.
Gnadensee
A study published in Grana reveals that the Gnadensee, a basin within Lake Constance's Bodensee-Untersee, is significantly influenced by the geological and ecological dynamics of the surrounding peninsulas and the Island Reichenau. The research identifies how these landforms divide the lake into distinct basins, affecting water movement, sediment distribution, and ecosystem structure. The study employs a combination of hydrological modeling and field observations to map these interactions, providing critical insights for understanding the lake's environmental complexity. This work contributes to broader efforts in studying UNESCO World Heritage Sites by integrating geological and ecological perspectives.
Images et société à Reichenau, vers l’an mil : les peintures d’Oberzell et les manuscrits apparentés
A new interpretation of the Pre-Romanesque frescoes in the Church of Saint George at Oberzell, part of the UNESCO-listed Monastic Island of Reichenau, reveals a coherent programmatic meaning centered on the role of the priesthood and its intermediation in salvation. The study, analyzing eight scenes decorating the church's walls, suggests that these murals reflect the Benedictine monks' vision of ecclesiastical society around the year 1000, mirroring contemporary reforms at Cluny and Fleury. This finding is supported by a comparative analysis with illuminated manuscripts from the Liuthar group, particularly the Bamberg Collection (Msc. Bibl. 22), which share similar theological and societal intentions.
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