In recent decades, art historians have given increasing attention to historical painting techniques, materials, and workshop practice. Through diverse research methods, scholars and research groups strive to get to broader and deeper knowledge about how artists and crafts(wo)men went about to create and sell their masterpieces.
This course explores these diverse approaches and their outcome; through analysis of surviving artworks, written testimonies, biographies, visual and archival sources, and hands-on methods (research by doing). We will examine and reflect on more and less traditional research methodologies, and discuss topics such as agency, workshop organisation, use and availability of materials, practical and spatial challenges, technological treatises and recipes, and the transmission of tacit knowledge.
There will be lectures, group discussions, presentations, hands-on sessions, site visits, and more. A part of this course will take place in the Material Culture Lab of the KNIR. Furthermore, participants will autonomously work in the institute’s library on their research paper.
Dates
24 February – 7 March 2024
Instructors
Dr. Laura Overpelt, Director of Studies in Art History at KNIR.
Dr. Thijs Hagendijk, Assistant Professor in Technical Art History at Utrecht University.
Credits
The study load for this course is 5 EC (140 hours). Each student should arrange with his/her home coordinator whether the course can be a part of the existing curriculum. After successful completion of the course, the KNIR provides a certificate mentioning study load and evaluation. Students who need 6 EC (168 hours) to fill up their curriculum (UvA/VU) will receive an extra assignment. They should communicate this with the instructor before the course starts.
Assignments and testing
The assessment will consist of: a preparatory assignment, active participation in the course, lab work, and a final essay to be handed in no later than four weeks after the course.
Target group
The course is open to a maximum of 12 selected students at MA, ResMA or PhD level from KNIR partner universities (University of Amsterdam, Free University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, University of Groningen, Radboud University, Leiden University). This course is intended for students in art history, especially the early modern period. Students from other disciplines are welcome to send their application, if they can motivate proven affinity with and prior knowledge of the subject, and the usefulness of this course for their curriculum.
The selection of (Res)MA students is based on the positioning of the course in the student’s curriculum, motivation letter, and grades. The selection of PhD students is based on the letter of motivation and curriculum vitae.
Course language
English, unless all participants are proficient in Dutch.
Costs
All participants will receive free tuition and accommodation at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome. Entrance to museums and sites we will visit as part of the course will be mostly free. Travel costs to and from Rome as well as local transport, meals, and refreshments are at one’s own expense. Upon successful completion of the course, participants can ask for a reimbursement of max. €100,- for their travel costs to and from Rome, or max. €150,- if travelling by train, upon submission of their tickets.
Facilities in Rome
The KNIR accommodation consists of shared bedrooms and bathrooms, and includes a living and dining space, a large kitchen, washing machine and wireless internet. All residents have 24/7 access to the library and gardens of the Royal Netherlands Institute. The KNIR villa is located in the Valle Giulia, adjacent to the Villa Borghese Park. From there, it is only a short walk to the historical centre of Rome.
Application
Please apply via the link below; include in your application:
• a letter of motivation stating how this course will contribute to your curriculum/cv and how yourprior knowledge can be of use to the group achievements (max. 1 A4)
• a cv (max. 2 A4)
• for (Res)MA students: an up-to-date, official transcript of your grades
Deadline for Application
1 December 2024; 23:59 CET. Participants will be informed about the outcome of their application by 20 December 2024. Please note that the decision of the selection committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
More info
E-mail: secretary@knir.it
Phone: (+39)063269621
© photo: Federico Zuccaro, Taddeo in the House of Giovanni Piero Calabrese, c. 1595, Pen and brown ink, brush with brown wash, over black chalk and red chalk underdrawing, 275 x 266 mm, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 99.GA.6.7
