25. September 2025
International Conference
Bertoli (1677-1743)
Drawing Elegance in the Service of the Imperial Court
Location: ITALIAN EMBASSY IN VIENNA
Rennweg 27 1030 Wien
The Vienna Theatermuseum, in cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Austria, invites to an international conference dedicated to one of the most important Baroque draughtsmen of Vienna’s courtly festive culture: Antonio Daniele Bertoli (1677–1743). The focus will be the rediscovery of Bertoli’s extensive graphic oeuvre. As “Dissegnatore di camera”, Bertoli shaped the aesthetics of the Viennese court theatre for over three decades from 1707 onward; today, more than 280 of his costume designs of unparalleled elegance are preserved in the Theatermuseum in Vienna.
Bertoli, born in San Daniele del Friuli and trained as an artist in Venice, was also a drawing teacher to the young Archduchess Maria Theresa and, from 1731, inspector of the galleries and art chambers at the imperial court. The conference brings together experts in art, theatre, and cultural history, who will comprehensively illuminate Bertoli’s artistic work and multifaceted personality. It is aimed at both a specialist audience and interested visitors, offering fascinating insights into the visual language of courtly representation and opening new perspectives on the art and theatre of the 18th century.
Curated by
Rudi Risatti, Theatermuseum
Public Registration
The conference is open to the public, register until 19.9.2025: vienna.eventi@esteri.it
Programme
9.15–9.30
Conference Opening
H.E. Giovanni Pugliese – Ambassador of Italy in Austria
Franz Pichorner – Director of the Theatermuseum
9.30–9.50
Introduction
Rudi Risatti (Vienna, Theatermuseum): Drawing Elegance. Bertoli’s Costume Designs in the Theatermuseum
9.50–10.00
Artist Statement
Monika von Zallinger (Vienna): Bertoli’s Art of Costume: Apotheosis of the Floral
10.00–10.30
Enrico Lucchese (Trieste/Naples): The drawings of Daniele Antonio Bertoli in Dresden
Coffee break
11.00–11.30
Andrea Sommer-Mathis (Vienna): Bertoli and the Imperial Costume Repository
11.30–12.00
Jean-Philippe Huys: Bertoli, disegnatore cortigiano. Grafica e fortuna critica
12.30–13.00
Caterina Pagnini (Florence): Theatrical Dance on 18th Century Stages
Lunch break
14.00–14.30
Çiğdem Özel (Vienna): Antonio Daniele Bertoli as Imperial Gallery and Kunstkammer Inspector (1731–1743)
14.30–15.00
Martina Griesser, Nadja Pohn, Nikoletta Sárfi (Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum / Theatermuseum): Bertoli’s Drawing Art. Scientific investigations with a special focus on photographic and other non-destructive techniques
15.00–15.30
Paolo Pastres (Udine): The Antiquities of Aquileia: An Allegory of Charles VI as Patron of the Arts
Coffee break
16.00–16.30
Alexander McCargar (Vienna/Boston): From Scottish Kings to Chinese Emperors. On Bertoli’s Exoticism
16.30–17.00
Juergen Hagler, Nils Gallist, Kurt Korbatits (University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria): Bertoli goes digital. New Horizons
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