Katharina Krause

Prof. Katharina Krause is a distinguished art historian and former President (2010–2022) of Philipps-Universität Marburg. She holds the Chair of Art History at Marburg since 1996, focusing on French art/architecture's influence in German-speaking regions (17th–18th centuries) and visual arts in southern Germany around 1500. Her research bridges art-historical methodologies with socio-political contexts, notably exploring urban imagery, baroque architectural theory, and the interplay of text and image in art history.

Education: Studies in art history/archaeology/history at Marburg, Munich, and Paris (until 1984). Dissertation (1988) on the choir decoration of Notre-Dame under Louis XIV; habilitation (1996) on Ile-de-France castle construction. Visiting professorships at Bonn and Vienna.

Research emphasizes transnational cultural exchange, with key topics including Versailles' urban symbolism, baroque architectural treatises, and 18th-century ornamentation practices. Her publications span 40+ years, analyzing works by Poussin, Holbein, and French baroque architects.

Memberships include the scientific advisory boards of the KunstBibliothek Köln (since 2018), Herzog August-Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel (2014–2023), and Munich's Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte (since 2012). Her recent work (2017–2023) investigates urban marginalized figures' visual representation and comparative urban planning between German and French contexts.

As head of Subproject B02 on architectural security concepts, she explores spatial representation's role in political legitimation. Though no formal advisees are listed, her extensive editorial work (e.g., Bilderlust und Lesefrüchte) reflects mentorship in academic publishing.