معرفی
Jan Bažant is a Senior Researcher at the Department of Ancient Culture and its Reception, Institute of Classical Studies, Czech Academy of Sciences, and Professor of Archaeology at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague. Since 1973 he has been continuously affiliated with the Academy, serving as head of department and principal investigator on multiple national and international grants. Concurrently, he lectures and supervises at Charles University and the Czech Technical University in Prague.
Education
- 2005 – Professor of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University
- 1995 – Docent (habilitation thesis: Antický portrét), Faculty of Arts, Charles University
- 1973 – PhDr, Faculty of Arts, Charles University (rigorosum in History of Art)
- 1972 – MA, History of Art and Classical Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University
Research Interests
His work lies at the intersection of classical archaeology, history of art, and the reception of antiquity. Major themes include Athenian vase painting, Roman portraiture, the afterlife of classical myths in European art, and the role of classical tradition in Czech art and architecture from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Recent projects examine Renaissance villas in Prague, the iconography of Venus and Perseus, and the digital mapping of antique-inspired works in Bohemia.
Across more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, Bažant has traced how classical motifs migrate through time, adapting to political, religious, and aesthetic contexts. His monographs on the Prague Belvedere, Waldstein Palace, and Villa Lanna have re-defined scholarly understanding of early modern Central European architecture.
Scientific Awards & Distinctions
- 2018 – Prize of the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences for Research Popularisation
- 2018 – Main Prize, Academia Publishing House, for the book Perseus & Medusa
- 2005 – Senior Fellow, Collegium Budapest
- 2004 – Senior Research Fellowship, The Warburg Institute, London
- 2003 – Visiting Professor, EHESS, Paris
- 1994 – Visiting Member, American Academy in Rome
- 1990 – Thyssen-Stiftung Guest Professor, University of Munich
Grants & International Collaboration
Bažant has led five consecutive grants from the Czech Academy of Sciences (1991-2013) on classical inspiration in Czech art, and participated in EU framework programmes. He has held research residencies at the British Academy, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Fondation Hardt, and universities in Florence, Lausanne, São Paulo, Berlin, and Rome.
Editorial & Professional Service
He sits on the editorial boards of Eirene: Studia Graeca et Latina and Studia Hercynia, serves on doctoral committees at Charles University, and is a member of the Czech government’s Research, Development and Innovation Council expert panel for Social Sciences and Humanities.
