Project description
Finding sacred images in natural forms
Medieval and early modern Christian scholars were intrigued by sacred images apparently produced by nature — such as, for instance, trees grown into the shape of a crucifix. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the NatuRel project aims to explore their reactions to these objects, investigating the global geography and materiality of sacred natural images. Involving research teams at KU Leuven and the University of Fribourg, the project seeks to bridge disciplines, merging art history, religious studies and the history of science. Through webinars, an online exhibition, and the first monograph on this subject, NatuRel promises to deepen our comprehension of nature's role in the shaping of Western culture and to foster interdisciplinary dialogue between sciences and humanities.
Objective
My project spotlights a category of religious images that has hitherto escaped scholarly investigation: sacred representations that were believed to be a product of nature. Objects of this kindsuch as marble slabs whose veining suggested a silhouette of the Virgin, or plants whose shape recalled that of a crucifixgarnered considerable attention in late medieval and early modern Christian culture. Regarded both as divine prodigies to be revered and as natural wonders to be investigated, they were described and reproduced in travel accounts, religious writings, and natural history treatises. Combining sources and methods from art history, religious studies, and the history of science, my research will chart the world-wide geography of these objects, investigate their materiality, and explore their embedding in late medieval and early modern Christian culture. In doing so, it will deepen our understanding of the perception of natural environments and materials in Western culture, and of the evolution of historical ideas concerning the agencies of nature, God and man in the shaping of the physical world.
Two internationally recognized research teams, specializing in the geography and materiality of sacred art (University of Fribourg, Switzerland), and in the relationship of visuality and nature (KU Leuven, Belgium), will host the project during the outgoing and the return phase of a 3-year Global Fellowship. An additional secondment to UC Davis, California, will enable me to develop a crucial stage of my research in collaboration with historians of science. The outputs of the projectincluding webinars, an online exhibition, the first monograph on this subject, and a series of lessons taught at KU Leuvenwill counter the divide between STEM fields and humanities by involving side by side scientists and historians; will strengthen the engagement of art history in ecocriticism; and will promote education on the connection between art and the environment.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 LEUVEN
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.