Tijana Zakula

Dr. Tijana Zakula serves as an Assistant Professor at University College Utrecht, part of Utrecht University. She is affiliated with the Department of History and Art History within the Faculty of Humanities, where she conducts research and teaching in art history with particular focus on Dutch Golden Age painting, visual arts, and Bible reception studies. Her scholarly activities include extensive contributions to the Encyclopaedia of the Bible and Its Reception and numerous publications on Gerard de Lairesse, Raphael's influence in the Netherlands, and portraiture theory.

Dr. Zakula's research interests span multiple interconnected domains of art historical inquiry. Her work primarily focuses on Dutch Golden Age painting, with special attention to Gerard de Lairesse, a significant Dutch painter and art theorist of the 17th century. She investigates the theoretical frameworks that shaped artistic production during this period, particularly examining how classical models were adapted and transformed in Northern European contexts. Her research also extends to Bible reception studies, analyzing how biblical narratives and figures have been represented across different historical periods in visual arts. Additionally, she explores portraiture theory and practice, investigating concepts of self-representation and identity formation through visual means. Her scholarship demonstrates how art theory intersects with literary studies, religious history, and cultural studies.

Analysis of Dr. Zakula's recent publications reveals consistent thematic threads connecting classical reception, Dutch art theory, and biblical iconography. Her work demonstrates how Renaissance and Baroque artists engaged with classical models while adapting them to contemporary contexts. A significant portion of her research examines Gerard de Lairesse's theoretical writings and their influence across Europe and even to Japan. She frequently analyzes how biblical narratives, particularly from the Old Testament, were interpreted visually across different historical periods. Her scholarship on portraiture theory reveals how self-representation evolved from Renaissance concepts through the Dutch Golden Age.

Dr. Zakula actively participates in scholarly discourse through numerous invited presentations at academic conferences and institutions. Her teaching responsibilities at University College Utrecht include courses related to art history, visual culture, and interdisciplinary approaches to the humanities. She has contributed significantly to exhibition reviews and academic seminars, particularly in the areas of conservation science and material history of art.