Iconography can be defined as the study of images and their meaning. The art of the Italian Renaissance produced a rich and complex visual language of imagery that expressed both the narrative and/or allegorical meaning of the work of art, while at the same time reflecting the social and historical context of both artist and artwork. Rocky Ruggiero, a specialist in early Renaissance art, examines four major iconographic themes of Italian Renaissance art.
10–11 a.m. Saints and Symbols
Explore the sometimes violent, often bizarre, and always fascinating representations of saints and martyrs in Italian art by artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Bronzino, Verrocchio, Caravaggio. From St. Sebastian’s arrows to St. Lucy’s eyeballs to St. Lawrence’s gridiron, we shall come to recognize those symbols that define saint imagery in the Renaissance.
11:15 a.m.– 12:15 p.m. Maestà: The Iconography of the Madonna and Child in Italian Art
Of all the extraordinary paintings of the Italian Renaissance, no subject better reflects the changing aesthetic values of Italian painting than does the “Madonna and Child.” From the two-dimensional, abstract representations of the Byzantine world, through the more naturalized interpretations of the late medieval world, to the staggeringly beautiful, bordering-on-sensual representations of the Renaissance, “Madonna and Child” paintings are veritable mirrors of the societies that produced them. We shall examine an extraordinary cross section of “Madonna and Child” paintings from the Italian Renaissance by artists such as Giotto, Fra Lippo Lippi, Botticelli, Correggio, Andrea Del Sarto, and Parmigianino.
12:15–1:15 p.m. Break
1:15– 2:30 p.m. From Prophet to Giant Slayer: The History of Davidian Iconography
Michelangelo’s statue of David has been described as the greatest sculpture of all time. Yet, there is much more to this sculpture than just its size. This lecture will explore the historical evolution of Davidian iconography as expressed in Italian Renaissance art. From medieval representations of a king, prophet and musician, the subject of David was reinvented in Renaissance Florence into a heroic giant slayer.
2:45–4 p.m. Reawakening the Gods: Mythological Iconography in Italian Renaissance Art
In the second half of the 15th Century, Italian Renaissance artists moved beyond the mere stylistic imitation of Greco-Roman Antiquity. With the rediscovery of Classical literature, a whole new world of iconography appeared involving the myths and deities of the ancients. Many of the most iconic works of art of the Renaissance, in fact, represent mythological themes. Examine key works of the Italian Renaissance that depict mythological subject matter by artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Bernini.
Ruggiero, who divides his time between Italy and the United States, has lectured on Italian art and architecture for American university programs in Italy for the past 20 years, including those of Syracuse, Kent State, Vanderbilt, and Boston College.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit*
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*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.
