Glory of Germania: the Whole Story

Glory of Germania: the Whole Story

Register for a live, virtual presentation by Loyola professor Reinhard Andress, who will present stories and images about the Glory of Germania, a truly stunning piece of art.

Some 25 feet high, 30 feet wide, and consisting of over 1,000 tiles, the Glory of Germania is a very large porcelain wall painting created by the Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin and sent by the German Empire to the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, where it was seen by millions. In it, the goddess Germania reigns supreme as a manifestation of the German people and as a protector of the arts and sciences, aside from additional historical and mythical allusions that include two side panels.

• What is actually going on in this artwork?
• What figures from the arts and sciences is Germania “protecting”?
• What are the historical and mythical allusions?
• How did the artwork end up in the Germania Club of Chicago after the exposition?
• How did it become a center point of the Club’s identity?
• Why did it disappear from view and was stored in an attic for over 30 years?
• How was it resurrected?
• Where is it now?
• And what is the future of the Glory of Germania?

The presentation will attempt to answer these questions and will be complemented by rich photographic material and other illustrations.

Reinhard Andress is Professor of German and Director of German Studies at Loyola University Chicago. After earning his PhD from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, he held positions at Middlebury College, Colby College, Alfred University, and Saint Louis University before joining the faculty at Loyola University in 2012. He has published widely on GDR literature, German film, German-speaking exile, and Alexander von Humboldt. His interest in the Glory of Germania stems from his own background as a German-American and is currently his most significant project.

Presentation Details:

In the days prior to the presentation, you will receive an email with your Zoom invitation code. You will want to download Zoom.us on your computer or phone before this. The application is free and takes about one minute. There will be a practice session in the afternoon, shortly before the class. There, you will be able to learn the program in a judgment-free zone. We are happy to teach you! You can also email rosa@dankhaus.com if you have any questions about how to use Zoom.

The event will start promptly at 6:00 PM CST on Monday, May 4, 2020. Simply click on the link to join at that time. You will be able to see other people on the call and even ask questions in real time.

Many of our virtual participants have asked if they could pay MORE for our classes. For any of you that wish to pay more, we have a $10 registration option that will DOUBLE your donation! Danke!