2011-2012 - The Italian Academy - Columbia University

Dosso Dossi, which oscillates in an especially remarkable way
between the sacred and the profane. Dosso’s picture warrants closer
investigation because it allows us to sharpen our insight into the
iconography mentioned above and opens more general questions
about ambiguity in visual representations as such, while it also calls
for punctilious research into the panel’s structures, symbols and
historical contexts of presentation.
The interdisciplinary atmosphere of the Italian Academy proved
to be an ideal frame in which to conduct this research. The productive
exchanges I had, especially with Prof. David Freedberg, Prof.
Michael Cole, Prof. Alexander Nagel, Prof. David Rosand and Prof.
Holger Klein, as well as the many discussions with my fellow Fellows
from different disciplines in the Wednesday seminars, provided very
important suggestions and observations for the completion of this
case study. Free of other obligations, I could also advance my broader
book project on Renaissance love (in collaboration with Prof. Adrian
Randolph and Prof. Jeanette Kohl); revise a further publication in
the field of Renaissance portrait miniatures as love tokens (to be
published in Art History); and finish a volume of the journal FKW //
Zeitschrift für Geschlechterforschung und visuelle Kultur (in collaboration
with Dr. Birgit Haehnel). My stay allowed me to examine originals in
the restoration labs of the Frick collection and to develop new ideas
for further projects in the overwhelmingly rich collections of New
York City’s museums and galleries.
The Italian Academy and Columbia University not only provided
us with the rich resources of Butler and Avery libraries, but also with
very interesting conferences, presentations of various disciplines and
artists’ talks of international range, which opened important insights
in recent scientific discussions. The many events I attended helped
considerably to intensify my contacts and networks with scholars in
my field not only in New York City, but at different universities in the
United States. By challenging our curiosity for the endless cultural offerings
of New York City, Prof. Freedberg also fostered a very productive
way of confronting this exceptional place. Here I have to mention
the wonderful group of my fellow Fellows, with whom I had much
more than simple scientific exchanges. I would like to thank the
Italian Academy and its Director for this unique opportunity and the
49 |