Call for papers

Renaissance Society of America Conference
8-10 April 2010
Fondazione Giorgio Cini,
Isola San Giorgio Maggiore,
Venezia

Panel Title:

Landscape as genre in the Serenissima from XV to XVIIth century:
Iconography, Context and Taste

The purpose of this panel is to examine the evolution of landscape
painting, drawing and engraving from the Quattrocento to the end of the
Seicento in Venice and its territories. One of the aims of this session
is to question how landscape representation became a genre during the
sixteenth century - what Larry Silver recently called a "pictorial
category" in his essay on the Antwerp art market (2006). The rise of
landscape depictions in painting and drawing remains one of the most
discussed topics in art history. Its constitution as a genre should be
studied more carefully, with particular attention paid to iconographic
conventions, symbolic implications, and literary or theatrical
references. Even though the subject has been widely discussed in the
past decades, we would welcome papers that present new interpretations
and points of view on the landscape genre, based on famous and
lesser-known works (i.e. Titian's paintings and drawings or unpublished
cycles of frescoes) or more general observations. Social and economical
contexts should be among the most significant points of reference. We
would also welcome papers on the collecting, patronage, or trade in
landscape productions during these three centuries.

Possible topics of discussion include:
- the genesis and development of the landscape genre in painting and
drawing or engraving;
- landscape drawing in Venice and in Italy;
- pastoral landscape in art and literature;
- decoration and iconographic programs;
- artists, patrons and their intermediaries;
- sacred, literary and theatrical references;
- the boundaries of the genre;
- naturalism and idealism;
- Venetian and Northern schools;
- the Venetian and Lombard conception of landscape between 1480 and
1550ca.;
- the Venetian and Roman conception of landscape between 1550 and
1650ca.

Papers should be given in English, Italian or French.

Please send your abstracts (250 words at most) and a short C.V. with
contact information before April 20 to
Christophe Brouard (Christophe.Brouarduniv-paris1.fr) and
Laura de Fuccia (Laura.De-Fucciauniv-paris1.fr).
Those whose papers are accepted will be informed by May 4, 2009

Please consult the RSA website for further information:
http://www.rsa.org