Research into Spanish art at Kulturwissenschaftliche Bibliotek Warburg in Hamburg. Fritz Saxl’stay in Madrid in 1927

Abstract

This article is an investigation into Fritz Saxl’s travels in Spain in the spring of 1927. The Viennese scholar, art historian and librarian in the KBWsince 1920, recorded his impressions of life and art in Spain in his correspondence with AbyWarburg. Their exchange of letters is therefore a documentation of their professional interest in Spanish art on two levels: it is an exchange of ideas, andmore, it provides Saxl’s insights into art and his growing understanding of Spanish art of the Baroque. Saxl’s sojourn in Spain proved of seminal importance for his future work and for the work of the two institutes he shouldrun, the KBWin Hamburg until 1933 andTheWarburg Institute in London until his death in 1948. The research results, gained in Spain in 1927, are presented here for the first time.