Giovanna Targia

Dr. Giovanna Targia is a postdoctoral research associate at the Art History Institute of the University of Zurich, working under Prof. Tristan Weddigen on the SNSF research project "Heinrich Wölfflin Collected Works" since February 2017. She has held significant research positions at prestigious institutions including the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (Max Planck Institute), IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and the Bibliotheca Hertziana (Max Planck Institute for Art History) in Rome.

Her academic background includes:

• PhD (Diploma di Perfezionamento) in Art History from the Scuola Normale Superiore (2009), with a dissertation on Aby Warburg's lecture series "Introduction to the Culture of the Early Italian Renaissance" (1909)
• Philosophy studies at the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Università di Pisa

Dr. Targia's research focuses on aesthetics and art historiography of the 19th and 20th centuries, with particular emphasis on the linguistic and discursive dimensions of writing about art. She specializes in image theory and the methods and history of art history, especially as developed by members of the Warburg Circle regarding artistic creation in cultural history. Her work also encompasses the theory of form and Goethe's scientific writings (morphology), as well as the theory and practice of translation in art historical contexts. She has made significant contributions through critical editions of works by Heinrich Wölfflin and Aby Warburg, and has co-organized major exhibitions including "Camere con vista. Aby Warburg, Firenze e il laboratorio delle immagini" at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence (2023).

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Warburg studies, iconology, and the relationship between images and language. Her work demonstrates deep engagement with the intellectual traditions of German art history, particularly the Warburg Circle, while also exploring connections to broader philosophical and scientific traditions. She has made important contributions to understanding the methodologies of key figures like Edgar Wind, Erwin Panofsky, and Heinrich Wölfflin, and has examined how concepts from biology and morphology inform art historical thinking.

Her scientific awards include:

• 2014 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers
• 2013 Ladislao Mittner Prize of the DAAD for Art History
• 2013 Postdoc Fellowship at the Bibliotheca Hertziana - Max Planck Institute for Art History
• 2011 Progetto Giovani Ricercatori (Project funding for young researchers), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa

Dr. Targia has been actively involved in organizing academic events and exhibitions, demonstrating leadership in her field. She has co-organized numerous workshops, conferences, and exhibitions, including the 2023 exhibition "Camere con vista" at the Uffizi Gallery, and various transdisciplinary workshops exploring the intersections of art history with other fields. Her collaborative work spans multiple institutions across Europe, reflecting the international nature of her research network.