Art and Humanities Research Board Centre for the Study of the Domestic
Interior, Amici
del Bargello, Harvard Universty Center for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa
I

Tatti, Victoria & Albert Museum

CALL FOR PAPERS:

'A CASA: PEOPLE, SPACES AND OBJECTS IN THE RENAISSANCE INTERIOR'

A Two-Part Symposium:

Victoria & Albert Museum London, 7 - 8 May, 2004
Villa I Tatti Florence, 3 - 4 June, 2004

This is the final symposium of a series related to 'The Domestic Interior in
Italy,
1400-1600', a research project launched in 2003 culminating in a book and major
exhibition at the V&A in 2006. The aim of this two-part symposium is to
explore the
non-princely urban house in Renaissance Italy as a setting for the development
of art
and culture, and for the unfolding of everyday life. In particular, we want to
stimulate research and discussion that will evoke the relationships between
objects,
people and spaces in the casa. We intend these two events to be genuinely
interdisciplinary, breaking down the boundaries between the study of the
physical,
aesthetic aspects of the house and the more socio-historic, anthropological
approaches
to domestic life.

An international group of scholars (largely funded by a Collaborative Research
Grant
from the Getty Grant Program) has engaged in collaborative research into this
area over
the past year, focussing in particular on defining the character and look of
the
Northern and Central Italian casa, and exploring the relationships between its
rooms,
contents and inhabitants. Everyday life and rituals have also been of central
concern:
topics such as dining, entertainment and sociability, and the marking of life
events
have formed a key part of the group's work. Furnishings, objects and decoration
associated with these and many other activities survive, and our aim now is to
integrate evaluation of their considerable aesthetic impact with greater
understanding
of their audiences and consumers.

We wish now to broaden the scope of this research with the two symposia.
Alongside
papers from members of the existing research group, we are seeking the
participation of
other scholars working in the field. We are interested in a broad range of
subjects,
but we are particularly keen to include contributions on:
- the relationship between the casa and the art and culture of the city
- the role of decorative art objects and prints in the home
- women's work and men's work in the home (domestic activities such as sewing,
house-keeping and chores; clerical, business and political activities); the
house as a
centre of production
- health and hygiene in the home
- domestic devotion
- literary representations of the casa

Proposals for 30 minute papers are invited from scholars from a variety of
academic
disciplines. Please send an abstract of 250-500 words, together with a brief
curriculum
vitae, to Vicki Coulson, Research Department, Victoria & Albert Museum,
South
Kensington, London SW7 2RL, v.coulsonvam.ac.uk; Tel. +44 (0)207 942 2576 The
deadline
for submissions is September 30, 2003.