The thirteenth meeting of the Patrimoine genevois program, the symposium Exhibitions and Art History is jointly organized by the Société des Arts, HEAD – Genève and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) to mark the 50th anniversary of the Swiss Association of Art Historians, founded in Geneva in 1976. It sets out to trace the history of art-historical practices in Geneva from the 18th century to the present day, highlighting the institutions and the people involved, as well as the modes and media of transmission. Its proceedings will form the 13th volume of the Patrimoine genevois series (Georg).

Thursday, November 12, 2026 – Building D, La Fabrique

2:00 p.m. Welcome and introduction
Lada Umstätter and Frédéric Elsig

1. 1702–1851
Chair: Mauro Natale

2:30 p.m. “Sentir les beautés”: Léonard Baulacre (1670–1761) and the early practices of art history in Geneva
Camille Larraz

3:00 p.m. The collection in the service of teaching: resources and models for the École publique de dessin and the Académie under the aegis of the Société des Arts
Silvia Zuccherini Martello

3:30 p.m. Discussion and break

4:00 p.m. The Musée Rath collection as a resource for art history
Vincent Chenal

4:30 p.m. A pioneering Genevan art historian: Jean-Jacques Rigaud
Rafaël Villa

5:00 p.m. Discussion

Friday, November 13, 2026 – Building H, Design Room

2. 1851–1941
Chair: Joanna Haefeli

9:00 a.m. The driving role of the Société des Arts: Old Master exhibitions, lectures and debates
Fanny Gros

9:30 a.m. Old Masters at the 1896 Swiss National Exhibition
Constantin Favre

10:00 a.m. Discussion and break

10:30 a.m. Teaching art history at the École des Beaux-Arts (1896–1941)
Isaline Pfefferlé

11:00 a.m. From the Musée Rath to the MAH: Old Master exhibitions
Marie Mazzone

11:30 a.m. Discussion

3. Since 1941
Chair: Lada Umstätter

2:00 p.m. Art history at the University (1941–2000)
Frédéric Elsig

2:30 p.m. François Fosca and the teaching of art history at the Beaux-Arts de Genève (1944–1953)
Philippe Clerc

3:00 p.m. An art publisher: Albert Skira
Grégoire Extermann

3:30 p.m. Discussion and break

4:00 p.m. Teaching art history at the Collège (upper secondary school)
Réjane Lüthi and Gaël von Arx

4:30 p.m. Round table on the challenges of art history in the digital age
Isabelle Burkhalter, Emmanuel Cuénod, Florence Marguerat

5:15 p.m. Discussion and closing remarks

Organization

Art History Unit, University of Geneva (UNIGE)
Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève)
Société des Arts de Genève (SDA)

Scientific and organizing committee

Frédéric Elsig (UNIGE), Joanna Haefeli (HEAD), Etienne Lachat (SDA), Lada Umstätter (HEAD), Sylvain Wenger (SDA)