Time: March 17, 2024 (Sunday) 13:30-16:00

Agenda:

Author's Introduction

Shao Yiyang

Guest Keynote Speeches

Zhu Qingsheng, Zhang Gan, Feng Mengbo, Wu Qiong, Zhang Chen

Audience Q&A

Venue: UCCA Lecture Hall

Language: Chinese

Introduction:

Traditional Italian Renaissance art history is primarily based on Vasari's "Lives of the Artists," which describes the development of art from the 13th century to the late Mannerist period, emphasizing the three great centers of Renaissance art: originating from Florence, then developing to its peak in Rome and Venice. This type of writing often organizes a series of biographies of genius artists in chronological order, neglecting the broader social and historical context of artistic creation.

In the shift towards the new art history, the study of the Renaissance, a classic in Western art history, has also seen numerous new perspectives and achievements. When discussing artworks, scholars now pay more attention to the function of art, its social significance, production methods, manufacturing locations, the interests of sponsors, audience reactions, and changes in the role of artists. In terms of spatial dimensions, the focus has expanded from Rome, Florence, and Venice to various regions of Italy, including Naples, Padua, and Palermo. Among these, "New History of Italian Renaissance Art" co-authored by Campbell and Cole is a representative and significant work. They not only oppose the biographical approach that solely focuses on the lives and works of outstanding artists but also differ from many other new art historians. They do not neglect the inheritance of art and the personal stylistic innovations of artists despite focusing on socio-political and economic factors.

In recent years, Renaissance studies have also entered the broad field of global art history. This not only brings new challenges to the traditional and central position of Renaissance art history, but also provides an opportunity for contemporary art historians to rethink this historical period. In this regard, in the non-Western academic world, research on the Renaissance and Western art history by Chinese scholars provides important responses and references. Building on the existing research foundation of the Renaissance and expanding with new perspectives and theoretical methods, Chinese scholars' research also emphasizes the clues within the artworks themselves. This approach allows artworks produced in different regions of the world to enter into a synchronous relationship and brings about a different spatial and temporal perspective within the global framework of Renaissance studies, imbuing the Renaissance with contemporary significance.

The conversation on March 17, 2024, is organized by UCCA (Ullens Center for Contemporary Art) and co-hosted by Paragon Book Gallery and Art Monthly of Phoenix and Publishing Group. It specially invites the main translators of the Chinese version of "A New History of Italian Renaissance Art" and researchers in Renaissance art history as guests. The event will focus on two aspects: the main topics covered in the book and the new writing methods presented, aiming to enlighten both contemporaries and future generations. The discussion will explore the value of writing Renaissance art history and the construction and development of the discipline.

Translator: NIU Lihua

Reviewer: JIANG Wenyi