Call for Papers
Renaissance Society of America
8-10 April 2010
Fondazione Giorgio Cini
Isola San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice

Panel title:
Desire, Sexuality and Gender: Italian Renaissance Art and Historiography

Sexuality and desire are notions that traditionally have provoked
uneasiness to art historians. Even though many works are loaded with
obvious sexual connotations, art historical interpretations often
continue to be vague and evasive. Despite the abundance of records of
sodomy, only relatively slowly works of art are being acknowledged to
be homosexual in nature: either in terms of the author?s identity or
the connotations of their style and content. The purpose of this call
is twofold. It invites the re-examination of Italian Renaissance art:
specific works, artists, contexts, where sexuality has been overseen,
as well the attitude of modern art historians: the way they have
approached artists, particular works, or the period as whole.
Methodological approaches, such as psychoanalysis and gender studies,
are particularly welcome, as well as contributions which will enable
us to clarify the notion of gender identity, and thus sexuality/
homosexuality, as working tools for a more informed discussion of
Renaissance art in Italy.

Please submit your abstract (maximum 150 words) and a short CV
(including affiliation and contact information) no later than May 18,
2009 to:

Dr. Berthold Hub, ETH Zürich, berthold.hubgta.arch.ethz.ch, and Dr.
Angeliki Pollali, The American College of Greece, apollaliacgmail.gr

Speakers must be members of the Renaissance Society of America at the
time of the conference.

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