Open AccessA Lucky metaphor by Cesare Brandi: The "Crystal Churches" of the Armenians
Author(s) -
Marco Ruffilli
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
venezia arti
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2385-2720
pISSN - 0394-4298
DOI - 10.30687/va/2385-2720/2018/27/008
Subject(s) - armenian , metaphor , newspaper , exhibition , relation (database) , expression (computer science) , architecture , art , art history , history , literature , visual arts , philosophy , sociology , media studies , ancient history , theology , computer science , database , programming language
The expression ‘chiese di cristallo’ (crystal churches) appeared in the title of an article written by Cesare Brandi in 1968 for the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera , which reviewed a photo exhibition on Armenian architecture. This definition for Armenian churches met some success in critical studies and it is often used in non-academic literature. The aim of this brief essay is to explain Brandi’s metaphor of crystal in light of earlier theoretical considerations – such as the ones of Alois Riegl and Wilhelm Worringer – and in relation to additional examples of this expression found in Italian art critics of the first half the 20th century.