Building to some extent on Aby Warburg’s approach, this volume presents the latest methods in art-historical research on the basis of case studies. Barbara Baert examines the enduring influence of ancient depictions of the Niobe myth in the early modern period as well as in Warburg’s own work. The key concept of the “pathos formula” is the subject of a study by Valentin Groebner, who makes a critical examination of its application up to the present day. Valeska von Rosen focuses on self-portraits in the work of Leon Battista Alberti, identifying patterns of thought rooted in the philosophy of the self that reflect a dignified self-formation. Christopher S. Wood examines Altdorfer’s “Triumphal Procession of Emperor Maximilian”, which he interprets as a parody of heroic iconography, based on the motifs of underpants and peasants’ footwear. Also drawing on Warburg’s perspective, Rafael Cardoso examines 19th-century Brazilian art and its transformation of European models.

With contributions by Barbara Baert, Valeska von Rosen, Christopher S. Wood, Rafael Cardoso, and Valentin Groebner

• Current cultural-historical methods in art history

• New findings in genre research

• Examining the relevance of iconological research