Hans J. Van Miegroet
Professor of Art, Art History & Visual Studies
1953-2024
The Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies mourns the sudden loss of our extraordinary colleague, Prof. Hans J. Van Miegroet. He was a powerful force in our program, leading the charge for the introduction of digital methods into art historical and visual analysis.
A memorial service to commemorate Hans' life and impact will take place Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m. in the Nasher Museum of Art Auditorium. A reception will follow and all friends of Hans are very welcome to attend.
Hans received his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He joined the Duke department in 1988. The DALMI lab (Duke Art, Law, and Markets Initiative), which he founded, was a thriving center of activity for teaching, graduate research, and international collaboration. Hans’ undergraduate course History of Art Markets (ARTHIST 231; ECON 344) came from this lab and was one of the most popular (and legendary) offerings in our department.
Through his research, Hans became a leading scholar in the application of statistics and economic analysis to art markets, especially in the early modern world. His most recent publication reflects these interests: “Authorship as a Determinant of Art Price and Auction Setting in Eighteenth-Century Paris” (with Anne-Sophie Radermecker), European Review for Economic History (2023), 336-61. Hans was also co-author of the influential study Mapping Markets for Paintings in Early Modern Europe 1450-1750 (with Neil De Marchi) (Brepols Publishers: Turnhout, 2006). As these publications indicate, he was active in forming international communities of scholars on these themes, for example in the Madeira Research Project that he was currently leading with colleagues at Yale School of Management.
Hans was also a great mentor to several generations of undergraduate and graduate students who he included in his collaborative work. In addition to his research and teaching, Hans served in many capacities in the department and university, including as Chair (2006-2014), as the Director of Duke’s Visual Studies Initiative, and, most recently, as the Director of Undergraduate Studies Chair of the Curriculum Committee.
The department will be posting a more fulsome tribute in the coming days; we will also be planning a memorial for later in the semester. Please refer to our departmental website for developing information.
Paul B. Jaskot
Professor and Chair
Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies
February 11, 2024