Hermann Goetz | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1898-07-17)July 17, 1898 |
| Died | July 8, 1976(1976-07-08) (aged 77) |
| Education | Doctorate |
| Alma mater | Munich University |
| Occupation(s) | Art historian andmuseum director |
| Known for | Scholarly contributions on Indian art history |
| Title | Director ofBaroda Museum & Picture Gallery |
| Term | 1939–1953 |
| Spouse | Annimarie Goetz |
Hermann Goetz (17 July 1898 – 8 July 1976) was a Germanart historian andmuseum director, known for his scholarly contributions in the field of Indian art history. He was the Director of theBaroda Museum & Picture Gallery, and the Director of history of art at theHeidelberg University's Südasien-Institut (South Asia Institute).
Goetz was born inKarlsruhe,Germany, on 17 July 1898, and was educated at the Real-gymnasium inMunich. He served in theGermany military during theWorld War I.[1]
Early in his career, during the World War I, Goetz was mainly interested in theOttoman Turks. Later, he became interested inIran (Persia), and subsequently, in thePersianateMughal Empire of India. His work on the Indian art history started with the studies of theMughal miniature painting. The map collection of theBerlin State Library included the "Jahangir album", a collection of Mughal-era paintings. Goetz studied this collection in detail, using his knowledge of figurative art,ethnography, and history.[2]
In the 1920s, Goetz obtained adoctorate from theMunich University. The title of his thesis wasKostüm und Mode an den indischen Fürstenhöfen in der Grossmoghul-Zeit ("Costume and fashion at the Indian princely courts in the Great Mughal period"). He then joined theEthnological Museum of Berlin as an assistantcurator.[1]
In 1931, when the GermanWeimar Republic was declining amid theGreat Depression, Goetz migrated to theNetherlands.[2] There, he became the assistant secretary ofLeiden University's Kern Institute for Archaeology and Indian History, and the editor ofAnnual Bibliography of Indian Archaeology.[1] His superiorJean Philippe Vogel, a reputedIndologist, became his mentor and Goetz started pursuing India-related research. At that time, there was a flood of foreign refugees in the Netherlands, and consequently, certain restrictions had been imposed on the employment of foreigners. As a result, Goetz was unable to take up a permanent position at the Leiden University. Under these circumstances, he decided to accept a grant to work inBritish India.[2]
Hermann Goetz and his wife Annemarie moved to India in 1936.[1] Goetz spent a substantial time studying the art of ancient and medieval India.[3] In 1939, theBaroda State's rulerSayajirao Gaekwad III appointed him as the Director ofBaroda Museum & Picture Gallery.[1]
Goetz was opposed to theNazi regime of Germany. Despite this, when theWorld War II broke out, he wasinterned by the British administration of India because of his German nationality. During this internment, he spent time consolidating his research. After the war ended, he published a large number of works.[3]
Goetz worked at theBaroda Museum until 1953. During this time, he also established the journalBulletin of the Baroda State Museum And Picture Gallery in 1942, and remained its editor until 1954.[1] He help set up a Department ofMuseology at theMaharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, and served a professor of art history there. Subsequently, he moved from Baroda toNew Delhi, where he became the Director of theNational Gallery of Modern Art. Over the next two years, he reorganized the Gallery.[1]
After having spent 19 years inIndia, Goetz contracted atropical disease. Because of this, he decided to move back to Germany in 1955. There, he organized several displays and exhibitions of Indian art, and gave lectures on related topics.[3] He returned to India in 1958 and then again in 1960-61.[1] During these shorter stays in India, he organized another museum atBaroda. In 1961, he moved back to Germany permanently.[3]
In Germany, Goetz became a professor of Oriental Art at theHeidelberg University's Südasien-Institut (South Asia Institute).[1] He later served as the Director of history of art at the Institute.[2] He visited India in 1971 to receive the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for his work on Indian art.[1]
By his 75th birthday, Goetz had 383 published works, which included 32 books. In addition, he had written over 100 book reviews. He died on 8 July 1976.[2]
