Byzantine Institute

Byzantine Institute. It was a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation, study, and promotion of Byzantine art and culture. Founded in Boston in 1930 by the scholar and philanthropist Thomas Whittemore, its most celebrated achievement was the decade-long restoration of the Hagia Sophia's monumental mosaics in Istanbul, which had been plastered over after the Fall of Constantinople. Through its meticulous fieldwork and influential publications, the organization played a critical role in establishing Byzantine studies as a major academic discipline and set new international standards for art conservation.

History

The organization was established by Thomas Whittemore following his extensive earlier work in Egypt and Russia, where he developed a deep commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Its creation was facilitated by Whittemore's close connections with the Greek Orthodox Church and his successful negotiations with the Republic of Turkey, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which granted unprecedented permission to work on Hagia Sophia. Initial operations were funded by the American Council of Learned Societies and private patrons like Robert Woods Bliss, a co-founder of the Dumbarton Oaks research institute. Following the completion of its flagship project in Hagia Sophia by 1949, it continued its mission under the aegis of Dumbarton Oaks, formally merging with that institution in 1962.

Founders and leadership

The driving force and founder was Thomas Whittemore, a professor of Fine Arts at Boston University whose diplomatic skill and scholarly passion secured the institute's major projects. Key early leadership included the archaeologist Ernest Mamboury, a professor at the University of Geneva who provided crucial onsite expertise in Istanbul. After Whittemore's death in 1950, direction passed to Paul Atkins Underwood, a distinguished archaeologist and professor at Dumbarton Oaks, who oversaw its final projects and integration. The board and supporters included notable figures like Royall Tyler, a historian and art collector, and William Mathewson Milliken, director of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Major projects and conservation work

Its defining project was the uncovering and conservation of the famed mosaics in the Hagia Sophia, a process that revealed masterpieces like the Deesis mosaic and the imperial portraits of Emperor Alexander and Empress Zoe. This work, conducted from 1931 to 1949, required innovative techniques to remove centuries of whitewash and plaster applied after the Ottoman conquest. Subsequent major campaigns included the restoration of the mosaics and frescoes at the Chora Church, also in Istanbul, under the direction of Paul Atkins Underwood. Further fieldwork was undertaken at the Fethiye Mosque, originally the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos, and at the Great Palace of Constantinople.

Publications and scholarly contributions

The organization produced a landmark series of scholarly publications that documented its findings and advanced the field. The most significant was *The Mosaics of Hagia Sophia at Istanbul*, a multi-volume work published by Harvard University Press which became an essential resource. It also released detailed reports on the Chora Church in the journal *Dumbarton Oaks Papers*. These publications, featuring contributions from scholars like Cyril Mango and Ernst Kitzinger, provided exhaustive iconographic analysis and high-quality photography, setting a new benchmark for archaeological publication. Its work directly informed major exhibitions at institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

Legacy and influence

The organization's rigorous methodology established foundational principles for the modern field of art conservation, influencing subsequent charters like the Venice Charter. Its success paved the way for other major international conservation bodies, including the World Monuments Fund. The archival records and photographic collections, now housed at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C., remain a vital resource for researchers. Furthermore, its efforts were instrumental in shifting scholarly and public perception of Byzantine art, moving it from a period of supposed decline to recognition as a major artistic tradition, a legacy continued by institutions like the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation.

Category:Byzantine studies Category:Art conservation organizations Category:Defunct research institutes