Petra Schultheiss: Like an Ancient Shrine: Mid-19th Century Architectural Theory, the Memorial Mosaics for Prince Albert and the Queen Victoria’s Position as Female Sovereign (Studien zur Kunstgeschichte, 210). Hildesheim, Zürich, New York: Georg Olms, 2018.

Sharp distinctions within the humanities hinder rather than enhance scientific insight. With regard to architectural theory, history, and the ambition to understand their connection and, thus, their production of meaning, it is particularly important to utilize the potential of an interdisciplinary approach. Petra Schultheiss’ study sets out on this path, combines contemporary architectural theory with political history, and adds a third pillar of analysis: the use of a specific material to build and portray – to mediate – the memory of Albert: namely, mosaics. Thus, it can be described as a study in material culture: acting human beings or societies are understood as bound to a specific place and time, “with physically present objects within a surrounding material culture that contains actions and perceptions, possibilities and constraints, memory and future options.”