Steffen Zierholz

Dr. Steffen Zierholz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Modern Art History at the University of Tübingen's Faculty of Humanities. Previously, he held positions as Assistant Professor at the University of Bern (2016-2018) and Visiting Professor at Ruhr University Bochum (2021). His academic journey includes prestigious fellowships at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome, the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florence, and a Getty Foundation/American Council of Learned Societies Postdoctoral Fellowship.

• Ph.D. in History of Art, University of Bern (2016)
• M.A. in History of Art, University of Tübingen (2010)
• M.A. in Educational Studies, University of Tübingen (2009)

Zierholz's research centers on Jesuit Art, Aesthetics of Existence in Early Modernity, and the material properties of stone surfaces. His work explores how early modern religious practices intersected with artistic production, particularly within Jesuit contexts. He investigates the relationship between spiritual exercises and visual/material culture, examining how surfaces, stones, and architectural spaces functioned as technologies of the self. His monograph 'Räume der Reform. Kunst und Lebenskunst der Jesuiten in Rom, 1580–1700' (2019) established him as a leading scholar in Jesuit art history.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on Jesuit visual culture, with particular attention to Ignatian spirituality, celestial imagery, and material transformations. Zierholz demonstrates how stone surfaces functioned as alternative aesthetic systems, how copper's material properties shaped religious imagery, and how early modern artists conceptualized heavenly contemplation. His work bridges art history, religious studies, and material culture studies, revealing the complex interplay between visual forms and spiritual practices.

• Getty Foundation/American Council of Learned Societies Postdoctoral Fellowship in the History of Art ($65,000)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, Max Planck Institute
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Bibliotheca Hertziana, Max Planck Institute for Art History, Rome
• UniBE Initiator Grant

Zierholz has received significant recognition for his scholarship, including multiple reviews of his monograph in prominent journals such as Renaissance Quarterly and Journal of Jesuit Studies. His research has been supported by major funding bodies including the Swiss National Science Foundation. While specific grant details aren't provided in the text, his fellowship history demonstrates sustained external research support. His academic trajectory shows progression from research assistant to independent fellow to faculty positions at prestigious institutions, reflecting strong scholarly impact in the field of early modern art history.