Zach Newcastle Art History

Fritz Saxl, An art history of Austria.In his early life,he studied in Vienna under Dvorak and in Berlin under W(o|ˇ)lfflin.Later he became Warburg's first student and successor.And then he was devoted to manage and extend Warburg's library which lasted his all life .Saxl concerned many areas such as sociology, history, philosophy and religion. The methods what he used do not be limited in Iconology and Iconography. But his intent of research always focus on one of issues: What is the significance of classical heritage?This thesis starts from Saxl's life,and then to analyze his study aim of art history. Concerning on the the significance of classical heritage from introducing Saxl's paper and action, especially droving home his point by citing specific examples: He stressed on the cultural background of studying images as well as the integrity of civilization. He believes that the updating of images is not merely reflected on the canvas surface. These images give a kind of "greatest power" to express emotional state, and to reflect the most profound changes of social, ideology, culture and religion. He believes that the updating of images is not merely reflected on the canvas surface. Warburg's original intention which impelled him to found the Library—preserves the memory of the value of human civilization—was insisted by Saxl. Saxl made Warburg Library become the base on which humanities scholars research the heritage of classical installations.