Lectern, inner room of the hall of Old University, Heidelberg, Germany
The Old University in Heidelberg, Germany is featured on the front of this card distributed by Edm. V. König, Heidelberg. M. Bauder is identified as the photographer in the space at the upper right corner where a stamp would be placed on the reverse side of the card. At the lower left corner on the reverse is F 137. The place is named at the upper left corner as “Heidelberg – Alte Universität, Aula.” There is no date on the card; however, it does have scalloped edges that were popular from the 1940s to the 1960s. The card is a color picture and is likely to have been distributed closer to the 1960s.
The hall shown on the card is the main assembly hall and lecture theater of the University. Built over a period of 23 years between 1712 and 1735, the Old University was based on plans by the baroque architect Johann Adam Breunig. It replaced a four-story college building erected in 1591. The name “Old University” came into use in the 1930s after another lecture hall was constructed and called New University.
As can be seen on the card, the wall behind the speaker’s platform is the focal point of the room with the arched painting by Ferdinand Keller (1842-1922). The painting depicts the foundation and history of the University allegorically. The wooden ceiling has four round paintings by Rudolf Gleichauf (1826-1896) of female figures. The figures represent Philosophy, Medicine, Jurisprudence and Theology. The walls list 37 names of famous Heidelberg scholars, divided into two rows. The entrance area commemorates the Grand Duke of Baden. A tablet of congratulations from the University of Freiburg dates 1886 hangs above the doorway.
Today the Hall of the Old University is used mainly for academic celebrations, and as a venue for concerts, readings, and presentations, especially awards of cultural prizes.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_University,_Heidelberg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Adam_Breunig
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Keller_(painter)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Gleichauf
No comments:
Post a Comment