Journal | Venezia Arti
Monographic journal issue | 27 | 2018
Research Article | A Lucky metaphor by Cesare Brandi: The "Crystal Churches" of the Armenians
A Lucky metaphor by Cesare Brandi: The "Crystal Churches" of the Armenians
Abstract
The expression ‘chiese di cristallo’ (crystal churches) appeared in the title of an article written by Cesare Brandi in 1968 for the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, which reviewed a photo exhibition on Armenian architecture. This definition for Armenian churches met some success in critical studies and it is often used in non-academic literature. The aim of this brief essay is to explain Brandi’s metaphor of crystal in light of earlier theoretical considerations – such as the ones of Alois Riegl and Wilhelm Worringer – and in relation to additional examples of this expression found in Italian art critics of the first half the 20th century.
Submitted: July 30, 2018 | Accepted: Aug. 23, 2018 | Published Dec. 13, 2018 | Language: it
Keywords Metafora del cristallo • Wilhelm Worringer • Cesare Brandi • Architettura armena • Alois Riegl
Copyright © 2018 Marco Ruffilli. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/VA/2385-2720/2018/04/008
