Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi (Strozzi Altarpiece), 1423. The Uffizi, Florence.
Join David Ekserdjian, Professor of History of Art and Film at the University of Leicester, for a wide-ranging exploration of what is depicted in Italy’s wonderful altarpieces from their beginnings in the 13th century to the time of Caravaggio and the Carracci around 1600.
Based on his recent book, The Italian Renaissance Altarpiece: Between Icon and Narrative, the talk aims to focus on content as opposed to form, seeking to classify altarpieces into broad categories, above all in terms of the opposition between icons – usually timeless representations of the Madonna and saints – and narratives, which tend to show episodes drawn from the lives of the Virgin, Christ, and the saints. He also examines those less easily defined altarpiece types, termed Mysteries, and considers whether it was patrons or artists who played the dominant role in determining both the form and content of altarpieces.
The Italian Renaissance Altarpiece: Between Icon and Narrative is published by Yale University Press (June 2021). Ticket holders will receive a code to use online for 30% off the retail price via their website.
Proceeds from our ticket sales benefit museums, galleries and other arts-based organisations and projects.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom which can be watched live, or on-demand for three weeks afterwards. You will receive your link to access the event in your email confirmation and the on-demand link after the event ends.